A  VOLUME 


iGK, 


RECOEDS 


''.   c 


RELATING     TO     THE 


Early  History  of  Boston 


OONTAINTNa 


BOSTON  TOWN  EECOEDS,  1796  TO  1813 


BOSTON 

MUNICIPAL   FEINTING   OFFICE 
1905 


178163 


[Document    115 — 1905.] 


REGISTRY  DEPARTMENT 


CITY    OF    BOSTON 

EECOEDS  RELATING  TO  THE  EMLY  HISTORY 
OF  BOSTON 

{Formerly  called  Record  Commissioners''  Reports) 


Tbis  volume,  which  is  the  thirty-fifth  in  the  series  formerly 
issued  under  the  direction  of  the  Record  Commissioners,  contains 
the  proceedings  of  the  town  from  April,  1796,  to  October,  1813, 
containing  the  town  proceedings  in  the  ninth  book  of  the  original 
records  of  the  town  of  Boston. 

EDWARD  W.  McGLENEN, 

City  Registrar. 
Old  Court  House,  Boston. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2010  with  funding  from 

Boston  Library  Consortium  IVIember  Libraries 


http://www.archive.org/details/volumeofrecords35bost 


BOSTON  TOWN  RECORDS. 


[NINTH   BOOK.] 


[1]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
public  Town  meeting  the  4:th  day  of  July  A.  D.  1796.  at  old 
south  Church,   &  adjournment. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting  at  Faneuil  Hall. 

William  Cooper 
Moderator. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  last  year,  to  make 
choice  of  a  Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary 
of  Independence,  Reported 

that  they  had  made    choice  of   John    Lothrop 
Esq.  who  had  accepted. 

Voted  that  the  Gentlemen,  the  Selectmen,  acquaint  Mr.  Lothrop 
with  this  Vote. — 

AN   ORATION. 

to  commemorate  the  independence  of  the  United  States,  was 
delivered  by  John  Lothrop  Esq.  at  the  old  South  Church. — 

On  Motion,  voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are 
appointed  a  Committee  to  wait  on  John  Lothrop  Esq.,  and  in  the 
name  of  the  Town,  to  thank  him  for  the  spirited  and  elegant 
Oration,  this  day  delivered  by  him,  at  the  request  of  the  Town, 
upon  the  Anniversary  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States 
of  America,  in  which,  according  to  the  [3]  Institution  of  the 
Town,  he  considered  the  feelings,  manners  and  principles  which 
led  to  that  great  national  Event,  and  to  request  of  him  a  Copy 
thereof  for  the  press. — 

On  Motion,  Voted  that  the  Gentlemen  Select  men,  be,  and 
hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  apply  to  some  one  learned 
and  able  Gentleman,  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  4th  of  July 
A.  D.  1797.  That  day  -being  the  Anniversary  of  the  Independ- 
ance  of  the  United  States  of  America,  wherein  the  Orator  is  to 


2  City  Document  No.  115. 

consider  the  feelings,  manners  and  principles,  which  led  to  that 
great  national  event,  as  well  as  the  important  and  happy  effects, 
whether  general  or  domestic,  which  have  already  and  will  forever 
flow  from  that  auspicious  epoch. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[3.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned,  in 
public  Town-meeting,  assembled  at  Faneuil-hall,  on  Friday  the 
8th  day  of  July,  A.D.  1796.  ten  O'Clock  A.  M. 

"Warrant  for  calling  this  meeting  read. 

Hon.  Thomas  Crafts  Esq. 
chosen  Moderator,  of  this  meeting,  by  a  hand  Vote. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz.  To  consider  the  application 
of  the  Directors  of  the  Acqueduct  Corporation  in  Boston,  for 
laying  the  Pipes  thro'  the  Town  land,  and  to  have  a  right  to 
repair  the  same  read,  whereupon 

Voted  that  the  Select-men,  be  a  Committee  to  take  up  this 
matter  at  large,  and  report  at  the  adjournment. 

The  Application  ' '  that  liberty  may  be  obtained  for  placing 
posts  in  the  passageway,  leading  from  Ann-Street  to  where  the 
late  swing  bridge  stood  "  read  and  committed 

Hon.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 
Jos.  May 
Paul  Revere  Esqs 
to  consider  the  same,  and  report  at  the  Adjournment. 

[4.]  The  Petition  of  Samuel  Cooper,  for  the  purchase  of  a 
small  piece  of  land  at  the  back  of  his  Store,  read,  and  after  de- 
bate, it  was  moved  and  voted ;  — that  the  Petitioner  have  leave  to 
withdraw  his  Petition.  — 

The  article  in  the  Warrant,  viz.  whether  the  town  will  take 
measures  to  place  the  money  in  the  Union-bank,  on  Interest, 
read  and  committed  to 

Thomas  Dawes 
Judge  Minot 
Samuel  Brown 
John  Codman  & 
William  Thompson  Esqs 
to  consider  and  report  thereon,  at  the  adjournment. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1796.  3 

The  Petition  of  James  Lovet  Esq.  and  others,  relative  to  land, 
where  the  late  Rope-walks  stood  —  read  and  debated,  whereupon 

Voted  that  the  Select-men  be  impowered  and  directed  to  ex- 
change the  Town's  right,  in  a  certain  ten  foot  passage-way,  lying 
between  the  late  Eope-walks,  near  Hutchinson  Street,  for  an 
equal  width  upon  Hutchinson  Street,  to  be  conveyed  to  the  town, 
for  the  widening  &  accommodations  of  said  Street,  and  that  the 
Select-men  be  authorized  to  give  and  receive  the  necessary  deed, 
securing  the  same,  provided  that  no  houses  except  handsome 
brick-houses,  not  less  than  two  stories,  secured  with  slate  or 
composition,  secure  against  fire,  he  erected  thereon  —  which  Vote 
was  passed  Nem  Con. 

[5.]  Adjourned  to  Monday  the  18th  of  July  Inst.  10  o'Clock 
fore-noon. 

Friday  the  18th  July.  10  o'Clock  A.  M.  met  according  to  ad- 
journment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  article  in  this  Warrant 
viz.  Whether  the  town  will  take  measures  to  place  their  monies 
lying  in  the  Union-bank,  on  Interest,  reported  as  their  opinion, 
that  the  Agents  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  new 
Alms-house,  be  authorized  &  empowered  to  invest  the  monies 
lying  in  the  Union  bank,  arising  from  the  sale  of  Town's  land 
made  by  the  said  Agents  in  6  per  C*.  Stocks  so  called,  until  they 
shall  want  to  make  use  of  the  same,  agreeable  to  the  Commission 
of  their  Agency. 

Thomas  Dawes  per  order. 

The  aforegoing  Report,  having  been  read  and  considered.  Voted 
that  the  same  be  accepted. 

The  Committee  on  the  Article  in  the  Warrant,  that  liberty  may 
be  obtained  for  placing  posts,  in  the  passage  way,  leading  from 
Ann  Street,  to  where  the  late  Swing  bridge  stood  —  Report  as 
their  opinion,  that  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  and  empowered, 
to  erect  a  post  or  posts,  in  such  place,  as  to  prevent  Carts  and 
Trucks  passing  through  to  Ann  street,  but  not  so  as  to  obstruct 
a  passage  way  for  Carts  &  Trucks  [6]  round  the  triangular 
building  now  improved  by  Mr.  Samuel  Wells. 

Thomas  Dawes  per  order. 

this  Report  having  been  considered,  it  was  moved  and  voted  that 
the  same  be  accepted. 

The  Select-men  being  appointed  A  Com®^  to  confer  with  the 
Proprietors  of  the  Aqueduct,  report  that  they  have  attended  that 
service,  have  met  the  Proprietors  and  viewed  the  premises  and 
are  of  opinion  that  leave  be  granted  to  them  agreeable  to  their 


4  City  Document  No.  115. 

request,  but  as  it  is  uncertain,  and  cannot  as  yet  be  determined 
at  wliicb  place  they  will  enter  the  Town,  your  Committee  would 
recommend  to  the  Town,  that  a  Committee  be  chosen  and  fully 
authorized  to  permit  them  to  break  ground,  but  that  previous  to 
which,  such  Contract  shall  be  made  in  writing,  as  shall  hereafter 
prevent  any  disputes,  and  shall  not  be  injurious  to  the  Town,  and 
yet  sufficient  to  secure  to  the  Proprietors,  all  the  benefits  they 
wish  for. 

Thomas  Crafts,  per  order. 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  &  accepted  by  the 
Town,  it  was 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Com^®  to  carry  the  same  into 
execution 

[7.]  The  Committee  appointed  on  the  Petition  of  M"".  James 
Thwing,  Report  as  their  opinion,  that  the  Town  ought  to  make 
him  a  compensation  for  the  Interest  &  damage  which  he  suffered, 
and  having  heard  the  Petitioner,  are  of  opinion  that  four  hundred 
Dollars  will  be  a  reasonable  compensation  therefor. 

Joseph  Russell  per  order. 

The  aforegoing  Report,  having  been  read  and  considered,  was 
accepted  by  the  Town. 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  Petition  of  Lois 
Clouston,  praying  reimbursement  for  extra  expences  incurred  by 
the  removal  of  the  brick  walls  and  chimneys  of  the  former  house, 
destroyed  by  the  fire  1794.  having  viewed  the  premises  and 
heard  the  parties  on  the  subject  of  her  Petition,  and  beg  leave  to 
report — 

that  the  sum  of  three  hundred  Dollars  be  allowed  and 
paid  to  the  said  Lois  Clouston,  as  a  reimbursement  of  the  extra 
expences  incurred  by  removing  and  rebuilding  Wall,  Chimneys 
&'^.  as  set  forth  in  her  Petition — the  said  Clouston,  relinquishing 
all  Claims  to  the  Lands  taken  by  the  Town,  in  order  to  widen  the 
Street 

Jon*.  L.  Austin  per  order. 

[8.]  The  foregoing  Report,  read,  considered  &  accepted  by 
the  Town. 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  Petition  of  James 
Tate,  praying  reimbursement  for  extra  expences  incurred  by  him 
in  removing  the  brick  walls  and  chimneys  of  his  former  house, 
destroyed  by  the  fire  in  1794.  in  order  to  accommodate  the  town 
with  a  strip  of  land,  to  widen  the  Street  have  attended  to  that 
business,  viewed  the  premises,  and  heard  the  parties  on  the 
•subject  of  his  Petition.     Rejwrt 


Boston  Town  Records,  1796.  5 

that  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  Dollars,  be  paid  to  the 
same  James  Tate,  as  a  full  compensation  for  all  the  expence 
incurred  by  him  as  set  forth  iu  his  Petition,  in  addition  to  the 
sum  of  fifty  Dollars,  allowed  for  the  land  taken  by  the  Town. 

John  L.  Austin 
Joseph  May 
IClisha  Sigorney 

The  aforegoing  read,  considered  &  accepted  by  the  Town. 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  Petition  of  James 
Tate,  praying  reimbursement  for  extra  expences  incurred  by  him, 
in  removing  the  brick  walls  and  chimnies  of  his  former  house, 
destroyed  by  the  fire  in  1794.  in  order  to  accommodate  the  Town 
with  a  strip  of  land  to  widen  the  Street — have  attended  to  that 
business  [9]  viewed  the  premises  and  heard  the  parties  on  the 
subject  of  his  Petition.  Report. 

That  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  Dollars  be  paid  to  the 
same  James  Tate,  as  a  full  compensation  for  all  the  expence, 
incurred  by  him  as  set  forth  iu  his  Petition,  in  addition  to  the 
sum  of  fifty  Dollars,  allowed  for  the  Land,  taken  by  the  Town 

John  L.  Austin 
Jos.  Ma}^ 
Elisha  Sigorney 

The  aforegoing  read,  considered  and  accepted  by  the  Town. 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday  the  27th  Inst.  3  O' Clock  P.  M.  in 
order  for  acting  on  the  List  of  Jurors,  laid  before  the  town.  — 
And  the  Town  Clerk  is  directed  to  notify  the  same  in  the  Chron- 
icle and  Centinel 

Wednesday  the  27th  July  1796.     3  o'Clock  P.  M. 
Town  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Select-men  having  as  the  Law  directs,  laid  before  the 
Inhabitants,  Lists  of  Persons  of  good  moral  Characters,  and 
such  as  they  Judge  well  qualified  to  serve  as  Jurors. 

The  Town  proceeded  to  examine  s*^  Lists,  and  selected  one 
quarter  of  the  number,  being  such  as  they  judged  best  qualified 
to  serve  at  [10]  the  Superior  Judicial  Court,  and  their  names 
being  written  on  separate  pieces  of  Paper,  were  put  into  one  of 
the  boxes,  to  be  liable  to  be  drawn  out  to  serve  on  the  petit  Jury, 
at  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  and  the  remainder  of  said  Lists, 
the  names  being  written  on  seperate  papers,  were  put  into  the 
other  box,  provided  by  the  Selectmen,  to  serve  on  the  petit  Jury, 
at  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  Greneral  Sessions  of  the  Peace, 
all  being  done  in  Town  meeting,  and  strictly  conformable  to  an 
act,  entitled  ' '  an  act,  for  reyulating  the  choice  S  services  of  petit 
Jurors.'^ 


6  City  Document  No.  115. 

Voted  that  all  matters  unfinished  be  referred  over  to  next 
general  town  meeting. 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town,  be  and  hereby  are  given 
to  the  Hon.  Tho®.  Crafts  Esquire,  for  his  good  Services,  as 
moderator  of  this  meeting. 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


[11.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
public  Town  meeting,  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall,  on  Monday  the 
10th  day  of  October,  Anno  Domini  1796.  10  o'Clock.  A.  M. 

Warrant  for  calling  meeting     -     -     read. 

Hon.  Thomas  Crafts,  Esq.  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote. 

The  Petition  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants,  that  the  Town  would 
purchase  certain  lots  of  land,  for  the  widening  Vincents  Alley, 
was  read,  and  on  motion,  the  question  was  put,  viz.  "That  the 
Petitioners  have  leave  to  with-draw  their  petition."  — 

Passed  in  the  aflSrmative,  Nem.  Con. 

The  petition  for  a  new  Street  from  market-square  into  State 
Street  was  read,  and  after  some  debate  it  was 

Voted,  that  the  Petitioners  have  leave  to  withdraw  their  Peti- 
tion, almost  universally. 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


[13.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston,  qualified  to  Vote  for  Representatives  to 
the  general  Court  of  this  Commonwealth,  &  legally  warned  in 
public  town  meeting,  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall,  the  7th  day  of 
November,  A.  D.  1796.  being  the  first  Monday  of  the  same 
month,  10  O'Clock  A.  M. 

Prayer  made  by  Rev*^.  Dr.  Haward. — 

Warrant  for  calling  meeting  —  read. 

Paragraphs  of  Resolve  of  the  General  Court,  for  the  choice  of 
one  Representative,  for  the  first  middle  district,  and  for  one 
Elector  of  President  and  Vice  President. —  read  — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1797.  7 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen,  that  the  Poll  would  be 
closed  at  half  past  one  o'Clock,  the  bells  to  begin  tolling  at  one 
O'clock 

Persons  Voted  for,  as  "Representatives  for  the  first  middle 
district  of  this  Commonwealth,  in  the  next  Congress,  of  the 
United  States,  viz. 

Hon.  James  Bowdoin  Esq.     -     -     -     -        986  Votes 
Harrison  G.  Otis  Esq.  -     -     -     -  1408 

Stephen  Higginson  Esq.     -     -     -  1 

[13.]     Persons  voted  for  as  an  Elector  of  the  President  and 
Vice  President  of  the  United  States. 

Samuel  Adams  Esq.       -     .     -     .  975 

Tho«.  Dawes  Esq. 1428 

John  Adams  Esq. 1 

two  attested  Copies  of  the  Persons  voted  for  as  above,  were 
sealed  up  in  Town-meeting,  and  sent  to  the  Secretary  of  this 
Commonwealth,  by  the  Town  Clerk,  superscribed  as  follows,  viz. 

For  John  Avery  Esq. 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts 

Lists  of  Votes  for  a  Representative,  for  the  first  middle  District 
of  this  Commonwealth,  to  the  next  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  from  the  Town  of  Boston,  the  other  of  the  same  tenor. 

Memorandum  —  the  Returns  were  put  into  the  hands  of  the 
Secretary,  by  the  Town  Clerk. 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


111911 

[14.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  pub- 
lic Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the 
13'^.  Day  of  March  Anno  Domini  1797.  9  O'Clock  A.  M. 

Prayer  made  by  Rev*^.  Dr.  Lothrop 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting    -     -     read. 

Sundry    Laws,    to     be    read    at    this    Meeting    were    accord- 
ingly -     -     read. 

The  Hon^i^  Tho«.  Dawes  Esq. 
was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote. 


8  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  a  Town  Clerk  and  the  same  having  been  brought  in  and 
counted,  it  appeared  that 

William  Cooper 
was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  Year  ensuing  and   an  Oath  of 
Office  was  administred  to  him  by  Mr.  Justice  Vinal       -     -     — 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  nine  Selectmen  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appears  that 
the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen.  Viz^ 

Ezekiel  Price  Esq. (excused) 

Thomas  Walley d''. 

Deacon  William  Boardman d°. 

M"".  Ebenezer  Sever d°. 

.     Thomas  Crafts  Esq.         .---..-       d°. 

Thomas  Edwards  Esq. 

William  Little 

David  Tilden  Esq. 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq. 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  [15]  Votes  for  twelve  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor ;  on  counting  and  sorting  the  same  it  appeared 
that 

Edward  Procter  Esq. 

John  Sweetser  Esq. 

Jonathan  L.  Austin 

Mr.  Edward  Edes 

Henry  Hill  Esq. 

Mr.  William  Smith 

William  Phillips  Esq. 

Stephen  Gorham  Esq. 

Mr.  Oliver  Brewster 

Arnold  Wells  Jun''. 

Dr.  Retford  Webster 

Mr.  Thomas  Perkins 
were  chosen  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mr.  Samuel  Clap  chosen  Town  Treasurer  for  the  Year  ensuing 
by  a  unanimous  Vote. 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  16  Fire  Wards,  and 
the  same  having  been  sorted  &  counted  it  appeared  that 
John  Winthrop  Esq. 
Thomas  Melville  Esq. 
Jabez  Hatch  Esq. 
Joseph  Russell  Esq. 
M".  Edward  Edes 
Amasa  Davis  Esq. 
Samuel  Parkman 
Mr.  Russell  Sturgis 


Boston  Town  Records,  1797.  9 

Henry  Jackson  Esq. 
Cap*.  Mungo  Mackey     (excused) 
William  Scollay  Esq. 
"William  Little  Esq. 
[16.]  Mr.  James  Tisdale 

Joseph  May  Esq. 
Cap*.  Robert  Gardner 
Maj'".  Andrew  Cunningham 
John  May  Esq. 
Deacon  William  Brown 
Cap*.  Nathaniel  Fellows 
Samuel  Bradford  Esq. 
Mr.  William  8haw 
Mr.  Joseph  Mead 
Thomas  H.  Perkins  Esq. 
John  Winslow  Esq. 
were  chosen  Fire- Wards  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mr.  Samuel  Clap  / 

chosen  Town  Treasurer  for  the  Year  ensuing  unanimously  and 
was  sworn  to  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  Office  by  the  Town 
Clerk. 

Votes  for  a  Treasurer  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  brought  in, 
and  counted  by  the  Moderator  and  Town  Clerk,  when  it  appeared 
that  the  whole  number  was  222,  of  which  216  —  were  for  Mr.  John 
Demming  4  for  Mr.  Clap,  and  1  for  William  Cooper  all  discreet, 
suitable  Persons  being  Freeholders  and  resident  in  said  County. 
Sealed  and  delivered  to  Mr.  Price  Clerk  of  Sessions. 

Voted,  that  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  12  Persons  shall  now 
be  chosen  as  a  School  Committee  and  the  Votes  being  brought  in 
counted  &  sorted  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were 
chosen 

Hon*^^^.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 

Rev*^.  Samuel  West 

Dr.  Thomas  Welsh 
[17.]  Rev*^.  Samuel  Stillman  D.  D.  excused. 

Hon^^^  George  Rich<i.  Minot  Esq. 

Dr.  David  Townsend 

Dr.  Aaron  Dexter 

Mr.  WiUiam  Smith 

Dr.  Wilham  Spooner 

Mr.  Arnold  Wells  Jun''. 

Mr.  Joseph  Crocker 

Edward  Gray  J^sq. 

Voted,  that  the  above  named  Gentlemen  who  conjunctly  are 
termed  the  School  Committee,  be  and  hereby  are  directed  to  carry 
THE  NEW  System  of  Education  which  has  been  adopted  by  the 
Town  into  operation  and  said  Committee  are  also  authorized  and 


10  City  Document  No.  115. 

impowered  conjunctly  to  manage  and  regulate  the  Officers  and 
Government  of  the  Schools,  &  in  future  to  exercise  all  the 
Powers  relating  to  the  Schools  &  Schoolmasters,  which  the 
Selectmen  or  such  Committees  are  authorized  by  the  Laws  of  the 
Commonwealth,  or  the  Votes  of  the  Town  to  exercise  any 
former  Votes  of  the  Town  notwithstanding 

Messrs.  Shubael  Hews 

Benjamin  Homans 

Thomas  Stevenson 

Amos  Lewis 
^^  I  -I  /  /  '■  c  Jirah  Holbrook 

^.,,,,;^''^',: /^,  Samuel  White 

William  Bosson 

Enoch  May 

Abraham  Tuckerman 

John  Kennedy 

Samuel  Dow 

Noah  Butts 
were  chosen  Constables  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

[18.]  Voted,  that  the  Assessors  be,  and  hereby  are  directed 
to  sit  for  such  abatements  of  Taxes  as  they  shall  Judge  reasonable, 
two  Days  in  each  Week  after  the  delivery  of  the  Tax  Books  to 
the  Collectors  for  the  space  of  Six  Weeks  &  no  longer,  saving 
they  be  allowed  to  sit  the  last  Week  in  February,  Lords  Days 
excepted,  for  the  abatement  of  the  Taxes  of  such  Persons  as  had 
not  the  opportunity  of  applying  in  the  above  limited  time,  by 
reason  of  their  being  out  of  this  Commonwealth  or  any  other 
unavoidable  hindrance,  and  that  the  Assessors  determine  on  the 
said  two  Days,  which  is  to  be  noted  on  the  Tax  Bills,  to  be 
delivered  the  Inhabitants. 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  five  Assessors  it  appeared  that 
Gyles  Harris  Esq. 
Samuel  Ruggles  Esq. 
Mr.  John  R.  Sigourney 
Mr.  Caleb  Blanchard 
Mr.  Thomas  Hitchborn 
were  chose  Assessors  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Voted,  that  5  per  cent  be,  and  hereby  are  allowed  to  the  Collec- 
tors of  Taxes  for  the  year  ensuing,  for  all  such  sums  of  Money 
and  public  Securities  as  they  shall  collect  &  pay  into  the  several 
Treasurers  of  the  Sums  committed  to  them  to  Collect,  also  that 
such  Collectors  shall  give  Bond  with  sufficient  sureties  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their 
duty  in  said  Office,  and  complying  with  this  Vote,  and  that  they 
will  not  [19]  receive  any  Premium  or  gratuity  for  discounting 
any  Orders,  Notes,  or  Receipts  from  the  Treasurer  of  this  State  or 
the  Treasurer  of  this  Town. 


Boston  Town  Eecobds,  1797.  11 

The  Votes,   being  brought  in  for  four  Collectors  of  Taxes,  it 
appeared  that 

Messrs.  Benjamin  Henderson 
Thomas  Bayley 
James  Thompson 
Benjamin  Jepson 
were  chosen  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  consideration  of  Money  matters  referred  to  May  Meeting. 

Voted,  that  Herman  Brimmer  ^ 

Joseph  Russell  V  Esqs. 
Samuel  Brown  ) 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the  Accompts 
of  the  Town  Treasurer  and  also  the  Accounts  of  the  Selectmen  & 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  said  Committee  are  also  directed  to 
Report  the  Sum  necessary  to  be  raised  for  the  ser^aces  of  the 
present  Year. 

Messrs.  Joshua  Bentley 

John  Champney 

Benjamin  Page 

John  Cogswell 

Benjamin  White 

Thomas  Sherburne 

James  Blake 

James  Robbins 

Edmund  Ranger 

William  Clouston 
[30.]  William  Darracut 

Nathaniel  Tidmarsh 
were   chosen    Surveyors    of    Boards    &    Shingles   for   the   Year 
ensuing. 

Messrs.  Joseph  Loring 

Thomas  Barbour 
George  Singleton 
Edward  Burt 
Thomas  Foster 
William  Pavkman 
John  Bray 
Henry  Purkitt, 
Jonathan  Gushing 
James  Barry 
Hezekiah  Hutson 
Philip  Hichborn 
Timothy  Pease 
were  chose  Cullers  of  Staves  and  Hoops  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mr.  Abraham  Adams  was  chosen  an  Informer  of  Deer. 


12  City  Document  No.  115. 

Messrs.  Benjamin  White 
Moses  Ayres 
John  Rice 
were  chose  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

[31.]  Messrs.  Thomas  Bradley 

David  Hollis 
Matthew  Loring 
Nathaniel  Copeland 
were  chose  Sealers  of  Leather  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messsr.  Jeffry  Richardson 
Isaac  P.  Davis 
were  chose  Surveyors  of  Hemp  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Edward  Tuckerman  Esq. 
Mr.  Edward  Edes 
were  chose  Surveyors  of  Wheat  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Daniel  Bell 

George  Hamlin 
were  chose  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Edward  Jones 
Francis  Booth 
G-eorge  Hamlin 
were  chose  Hay  wards  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Selectmen 
were  chose  Surveyors  of  High  Ways  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

[21*.]  Messrs.  Joshua  Wetherly 

John  Wells 
were  chose  Assay  Masters  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mr.  Edward  Rumley 
was  chosen  an  Inspector  of  Stone  Lime  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Roger  Bartlet 
Joseph  Doble 
David  Brace 
were  chose  Cullers  of  dry  Fish  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Thomas  Walley  Esq. 
having  declined  serving  in  the  Office  of  Selectman. 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  Mr.  Walley  for 
his  good  and  faithful  services  as  Selectman  a  number  of  Years 
past. 

Thomas  Crafts  Esq.  &  Mr.  Boardman  having  also  declined 
serving  as  Selectmen  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  was  Voted  them  in 
like  manner. 

Adjourned  to  3  O.  Clock  P.  M. 

*  So  numbered  in  original. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1797.  13 

3.  O.  Clock  P.  M.  Town  met. 

Messrs.  John  Gushing 
Thomas  Neil 
Samuel  L.  Perkins 
[22.']  Martin  Eicker  Jun^ 

John  Somes 
James  Andrews 
Augustus  Hunt 
John  Osborn 
James  Hall 
Thomas  Oliver 
John  Hancock 
Uriah  Cotting 
were  chose  Clerks  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Article  in  Warr*.  relative  to  Wooden  Buildings  read  &  referred 
to  May  Meeting. 

Article  in  "Warrant  relative  to  Bread,  read  whereupon 

Voted,  that  Thomas  Walley  Esq. 

Charles  Jarvis  Esq. 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 
be  a  Committee  to  consider  this  Article  and  the  Petition  &  to  Re- 
port at  the  Adjournment. 

Article  relative  to  a  Post  being  placed  near  Ana  Street  —  read 
—  &  a  Committee  was  appointed  to  make  Report  —  but  on 
Motion  it  was  reconsidered ;   also  on  Motion 

Voted,  to  reconsider  the  late  Vote  of  the  Town  for  placing  a 
Post  leading  from  Town  Dock  to  Ann  Street. 

[33.]  The  Petition  of  Asa  Fuller  &  others  for  Lease  of 
Land  on  the  Neck.  read,  also  the  Article  in  the  Warrant 
"  Whether  measures  shall  be  taken  for  the  improvement  of  the 
Lands,  each  side  the  Neck  —  also  the  Article,  what  measures 
shall  be  pursued  to  prevent  the  Water  overflowing  the  N°.  West 
side  of  the  Neck",  also  what  measures  shall  be  taken  respecting 
the  Contract  &  Lease  made  by  the  Town  of  part  of  said  Lands 
with  and  to  John  May  &  others,  whereupon 

Voted,  that  William  Eustis  Esq. 
Hon°.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 
Thomas  Crafts  Esq. 
George  Blake  Esq. 
Samuel  Brown  Esq. 
Perez  Morton  Esq. 
Joseph  Russell  Esq. 


14  City  Document  No.  115, 

be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  take  the  aforegoing 
Petition  and  Articles  into  consideration  &  Report  at  the  Adjourn- 
ment. 

The  Petition  of  Henry  Hill  &  others  on  various  subjects, 
respecting  the  Interest  of  the  Town  —  was  read  —  whereupon  it 
was 

Voted,  that  Hon^.  James  Sullivan  Esq. 

John  Coffin  Jones  Esq. 

Henry  Hill  Esq. 

Benjamin  Austin  Jun'^.  Esq. 

Judge  Minot 

Arnold  Wells  Jun''. 

John  Lowell  Jun'.  Esq. 
[34.]     be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  take  the 
aforegoing  Petition  &  Articles  into  consideration,  and  to  Report 
thereon  at  the  adjournment. 

Messrs.  Jirah  Holbrook 

Cap*.  Joseph  Gleason 
William  Jennings 
Thomas  Botter 
Isaac  Tuckerman 
were  chose  Sealers  of  Wood  for  the  ensuing  Year. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  —  viz.  "  To  consider  whether  any 
or  what  measures  the  Town  will  adopt  to  prevent  the  erection  of 
other  Rope  Walks  on  the  Ground  at  West  Boston,  where  they 
stood  before  the  late  Fire,  was  read  —  whereupon 

Voted  that  Thomas  Walley  Esq. 

Thomas  Crafts  Esq. 

Mr.  Thomas  Dennie 

Mr.  Charles  Miller 

Hon''^®.  John  Coffin  Jones  Esq. 

Mr.  Edward  Edes 

General  Donnison  — 
be    a   Committee   to   take   this   matter   into   consideration    and 
Report  at  the  Adjournment. 

The  matter  of  Lamps,  as  to  lighting,  &  referred  to  the  Gentle- 
men Selectmen 

[35.]     The  Article  as  to  Bulls,  read  —  whereupon 

Voted  that  this  matter  be  referred  to  the  Selectmen ' —  to  pro- 
ceed as  usual. 

Cap*.  Mungo  Mackay  having  resigned  as  a  Fire  Ward  had  a 
Vote  of  Thanks  for  his  good  services  while  in  that  office. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1797.  15 

Adjourned  to  Monday  Fortnight,  being  the  27.  Ins*. —  10 
O  Clock  A  :  M  : 

Monday  the  27.  March,  10.  O  Clock;  Met  according  to 
Adjournment 

Mr  Price  resigns  as  a  Selectman,  whereupon 

Voted  that  Ezekiel  Price  Esq.  have  the  Thanks  of  the  Town 
for  his  long  &  faithful  services  as  a  Selectman. 

Judge  Minot  &  Dr.  Townsend  resigned  from  School  Comm®®. 
&  had  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  for  their  good  services  a  number 
of  Years  past. 

The  inhabitants  having  brought  in  their  Votes  for  four  Select- 
men it  appeared  that 

Abiel  Smith  Esq. 

Mr.  Jonathan  Harris 

Cap'.  Joseph  Howard 

Amasa  Davis  Esq. 
were  chosen. 

[26.]  The  Votes  brought  in  for  one  Fire  Ward,  when  it 
appeared  that  Mr.  Levi  Lane  was  chosen. 

On  Motion  for  the  choise  of  twelve  ty thing  Men,  it  was  Voted, 
that  the  consideration  of  this  matter  be  referred  to  the  General 
Town  Meeting  in  May  next. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  relative  to  the  Rope  Walks  at 
West  Boston,  have  attended  that  service  and  beg  leave  to  Report 
that  the  Assurance  they  have  from  the  Proprietors  in  addition  to 
the  late  Law  "to  secure  the  Town  of  Boston  against  Fires" 
makes  it  unnecessary  for  the  Town  to  adopt  any  further  measures 
respecting  the  said  Rope  Walks 

Thomas  Crafts  per  order. 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  &  debated — the 
Question  was  put,  Whether  the  same  shall  be  accepted — passed 
in  the  affirmative,  and  the  Petitioners  have  leave  to  withdraw 
their  Petition. 

Two  Deeds  of  Mr.  Allen  Crocker  &".  were  laid  before  the 
Town,  said  Deeds  conveying  to  the  Town  a  small  piece  of  Land 
to  enlarge  Vincents  Lane  so  called,  conditioned,  that  the  Street 
should  be  named  Franklin  Street,  were  referred  to  the  Selectmen 
they  to  take  such  measures  as  they  shall  judge  necessary. 

[37.]  The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  of 
Asa  Fuller  &  others  for  Lease  of  Lands  on  the  Neck  and  whether 


16  City  Document  No.  115. 

measures  shall  be  taken  for  the  improvement  of  the  Land  each 
side  the  Neck  —  and  also  what  measures  shall  be  taken  to  pre- 
vent the  Water  from  overflowing  the  west  side  of  the  neck — 
and  also  what  measures  shall  be  taken  respecting  the  contract 
and  Lease  made  by  the  Town  of  part  of  said  Land,  with  and  to 
John  May  &  others  —  ask  leave  to  Report. — 
That  previous  to  a  general  disposition  of  the  very  valuable  prop- 
erty of  the  Town,  lying  on  each  side  of  the  neck,  it  is  expedient 
that  an  accurate  map  of  the  same  should  be  taken,  and  this  they 
recommend,  that  the  Selectmen  should  be  requested  to  have  exe- 
cuted immediately,  and  as  the  Committee  have  not  had  opportu- 
nity to  ascertain  the  whole  of  the  Land  which  is  the  property  of 
the  Town  at  the  present  time  &  of  course  are,  not  ready  to  sug- 
gest the  most  expedient  &  profitable  arrangement  which  can  be 
made  of  it,  they  ask  leave  to  sit  again,  And  in  the  mean  time  as 
it  is  not  probable  the  Town  can  proceed  to  an  immediate  division 
and  appropriation  of  the  said  Lands.  — 

The  Committee  recommend  that  the  Selectmen  should  be  author- 
ized to  continue  the  Lease  of  the  Land  occupied  by  Asa  Fuller 
and  others  as  a  Candle  Manufactory  for  the  term  of  one  Year 
and  at  the  expiration  of  this  Lease,  that  he  be  authorized  to 
remove  the  Buildings  erected  by  him  and  his  associates  on  the 
said  Land,  —  And  that  the  Selectmen  be  further  authorized  to 
lease  for  the  [38]  term  of  one  Year  all  other  Lands  belonging 
to  the  Town  and  lying  on  both  sides  of  the  Neck  on  Terms  most 
advantageous  to  the  Town,  The  Lessees  to  keep  the  fences  in 
good  repair,  to  guard  and  cultivate  the  Trees  which  are  standing, 
and  to  supply  those  which  are  deficient,  and  in  case  the  Town 
shall  resume  its  rights  to  any  part  of  the  Lands  within  the  Year, 
for  the  purpose  of  Streets  or  Building  Lots  a  reasonable  deduc- 
tion to  be  made  for  the  same  —  With  respect  to  the  overflowing 
of  the  Water  on  the  N°.  west  side,  the  Comm^®  are  of  [the  opinion] 
that  the  repairing  of  the  wall  now  about  to  be  effected  by  John 
May  &  others,  the  present  Lessees,  will  be  sufficient  for  the  pur- 
pose —  And  the  Comm^^.  are  of  opinion  that  the  Town  should 
instruct  the  Selectmen  to  guard  against,  the  continuance  of  a 
Slaughter-house  which  now  stands  on  a  Lot  of  the  Towns  Land, 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Neck,  as  they  conceive  the  same  to  be 
injurious  to  the  health  of  the  Inhabitants. 

William  Eustis  p^.  Order. 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read,  and  considered  — 
the  Question  was  put  Viz*.  "  Whether  said  Report  be  accepted  — 
Passed  in  the  affirmative  —  and  the  Comm^®  have  leave  to  set 
again.  — 

The  Committee's,  Report  on  the  Petition  of  Henry  Hill  Esq. 
and  others. — 

[39.]     Town  meeting  by  adjournment  March  27.  1797. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1797.  17 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  Petition  of  Henry  Hill 
&  others,  &  who  were  also  directed  to  Consider  &  report,  what 
measures  might  with  propriety  be  pursued,  in  order  to  protect  the 
Inhabitants  against  Burglaries  &  Thefts,  beg  leave  to  Report. 

That  no  late  alteration  has  been  made  in  the  authority  dele-' 
gated  to  the  Selectmen  to  establish  the  assize  of  Bread,  and  they 
do  not  find  that  it  is  necessary  to  adopt  any  measures,  at  present, 
on  that  subject. 

Upon  considering  the  Article  in  the  said  Petition  which  relates  to 
the  adoption  of  Hearses  at  Funerals,  the  Committee  do  not  per- 
ceive any  advantage,  which  will  probably  result  from  any  resolu- 
tion of  the  Town  upon  that  subject. 

The  gloomy  pageantry,  &  Useless  [parade]  founded  in  the  manners 
and  habits  of  the  barbarous  ages  and  hitherto  adopted  on  the 
melon cholly  occasions,  have  been  gradually  wearing  away;  and 
the  Comm*^®.  are  convinced,  that  the  prudent  reflections,  and  cool 
reasoning  of  a  Republican,  and  enlightened  Community,  will 
much  better  produce  the  remedy  wished  for,  than  any  positive 
regulations  in  the  nature  of  Sumptuary  Laws. 

As  to  all  other  matters  mentioned  in  said  Petition,  the  Committee 
are  happy  to  Report,  that  the  [30]  Laws  now  in  being,  including 
the  by  laws  of  the  Town,  are  amply  sufficient  if  they  are  duly 
executed,  to  remedy  every  evil  complained  of. — 

Under  this  idea,  and  upon  all  the  other  matters  referred  to 
them,  the  Conunittee  ask  leave  to  submit  a  general  Report  for 
the  Consideration  of  the  Town. — that  there  is  a  necessity  to 
establish  some  easy,  prompt,  respectable,  and  expedient  manner 
of  trying  causes,  and  inflicting  punishments,  in  order  to  render 
the  Inhabitants  secure  from  the  depredations  of  evilly  disposed, 
idle,  and  vagrant  Persons,  and  in  order  to  carry  the  wholesome 
Laws  against  monopolies,  forestalling,  nuisances,  frauds,  and 
cheats  of  every  description,  as  well  as  the  good  and  well  adapted 
by  laws  of  the  Town  into  effectual  Execution. — 

A  very  great  proportion  of  the  offences,  with  which  the  Town 
are  now  alarmed,  cannot,  under  the  Constitution  of  the  Common- 
wealth, be  tried  by  a  Justice  of  the  Peace. — The  Court  of  Sessions 
is  holden  but  once  in  a  quarter  of  an  Year,  and  the  Emoluments 
of  the  Office  of  a  Justice  of  the  Sessions,  are  not  such  as  will 
induce  Men  to  spend  time  in  order  to  obtain  that  information  in 
matters  of  Jurisprudence,  which  is  necessary  to  an  effectual 
energetic,  execution  of  the  Laws. — 

Besides  this,  the  mode  of  Prosecution  is  so  prolix  &  dilatory, 
that  the  Prosecutor  is  a  sufferer  in  many  instances,  nearly  equal 
to  the  person  prosecuted. 


18  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  expence  of  holding  Prisoners  for  trial,  and  the  impractica- 
bility of  detaining  Witnesses,  are  great  discouragements  to  those 
who  attempt  to  enforce  [31]  the  Execution  of  the  Laws,  and  as 
great  encouragements  to  those  who  violate  them,  and  who  by 
these  means  frequently  escape  with  impunity. 

The  Committee  are  therefore  of  opinion  that  the  Town  ought 
to  appoint  Agents  to  Petition  the  Legislature,  for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  an  Act,  for  establishing  a  Court  for  the  Town  of  Boston, 
to  be  holden  by  one  able  and  discreet  Judge,  appointed  according 
to  the  Constitution  by  the  Supreme  Executive,  on  the  first  Monday 
in  every  Month,  with  power  to  adjourn  from  day  to  day — and 
that  the  same  Court  shall  have  cognizance  of  all  offences,  and 
crimes  committed  within  the  Town  of  Boston  to  which  a  capital 
punishment  is  not  annexed, — And  shall  have  power  also,  to  try 
all  offences  against  the  By  Laws  of  the  Town,  — frauds,  deceits, 
monopolies,  forestalhng,  regrading  [regarding?]  thefts,  nuisances, 
and  breaches  of  the  Peace. 

And  also,  to  enquire  into  and  execute  the  Laws  against  Vagrants, 
and  those  against  Lewdness,  Bawdy  houses  and  other  disorderly 
places,  and  to  possess  such  Powers  as  the  Legislature  from  time 
to  time,  shall  think  proper  to  invest  the  same  Court  with.  — 
that  the  said  Court  shall  have  power  to  summon  a  petit  Jury, 
where  the  Constitution  and  Laws  shall  render  it  necessary.  And 
for  the  ease  of  the  Citizens  of  the  Town,  that  the  standing  grand 
Jurors  annually  chosen  shall  be  increased  so  as  that  the  whole 
number  within  the  Town  may  be  fifteen,  and  that  they  may  be 
summoned  at  the  Town  Court,  and  be  there  impannelled  as  a 
Grand  Jury,  with  all  the  Powers  incident  to  that  body,  by  the 
Constitution  &  Laws. 

[33.]  That  the  Town  be  authorized  to  choose  an  advocate 
annually,  who  shall  have  power,  and  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
receive  Complaints,  draw  bills,  file  informations,  and  conduct 
prosecutions,  in  the  Court  according  to  the  Laws,  in  being.  By 
Order  of  the  Committee. 

Ja  Sullivan  Chairman 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  was  approved  of  and 
accepted  by  the  Town — also 

Voted  that  the  Committee  who  made  this  Report  Viz'. 

Hon^^®.  James  SuUivan  Esq. 

Hon''^®.  John  Coffin  Jones  Esq. 

Henry  Hill  Esq. 

Hon^'®.  Benjamin  Austin  Jun"".  Esq. 

Hon'^"'.  George  Rich'*.  Minot  Esq. 

Arnold  Wells  Jun''. 

John  Lowell  Jun''.  Esq. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1797.  19 

be,  and  hereby  are  appointed  the  Committee  or  Agents  to  Petition 
the  Legislature  for  obtaining  an  Act  to  affect  the  purposes  men- 
tioned in  said  Petition. 

Committee  relative  to  Bakers  Reported,  &  their  Report  was  not 
accepted  —  but  on  Motion  it  was  Voted,  to  be  the  sense  of  the 
Town  that  the  Assize  Law  on  Bread  be  repealed,  and  that  in 
future  Bread  be  sold  by  weight.  — 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  requested  to  insert  an 
Article  in  the  Warrant  for  next  Town  Meeting  to  take  the  sense 
of  y®.  Inhabitants  on  the  expediency  of  having  at  all  future 
ILlections  [33]  a  hst  of  all  the  qualified  Voters  belonging  to  the 
Town. 

On  Motion  Voted,  that 

All  Matters  unfinished  at  this  Meeting  be  referred  over  to  May 
Meeting,  then  to  be  acted  upon  &  that  this  Meeting  be  adjourned 
to  said  Meeting. 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the  Hon''^^. 
Thomas  Dawes  Esq.,  the  Moderator,  for  giving  such  dispatch  to 
the  Business  of  this  Meeting. 

[34.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Boston,  of  twenty  one  Years  of  Age  &  upwards,  qualified  as  the 
Constitution  prescribes,  and  legally,  in  public  Town  Meeting 
Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall,  on  Monday  the  3*^.  Day  of  April, 
Anno  Domini  1797. 

Prayer  by  the  Rev*^.  Doctor  Thatcher  D  :  D  : 

Warrant  for  calhng  Meeting      -     -     read 

Paragraph  of  the  Constitution,  or  Frame  of  Government  relative 
to  the  choice  of  Grov'".,  Lieu*.  Governor,  and  Senators  -     -     read. 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Vote  would  be 
received  but  such  as  were  unfolded,  and  that  they  propose  the 
Poll  shall  be  closed  at  half  past  1.  O  Clock,  the  Votes  to  be 
received  at  the  Table,  —  and  the  Bells  to  begin  tolling  at  1. 
OClock. 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Governor,  with  the  number  of  Votes  for 

each  Person Viz*. 

His  Honor  Moses  Gill  Esq. 869 

Hon''.  Increase  Sumner  Esq. 1054 

His  Excellency  Samuel  Adams  Esq. 1 

Hon^^  James  Sullivan  Esq. 27 

Hon^^  James  Bowdoin  Esq. 1 

Hon^.  Elbridge  Gerry  Esq. 1 

Hon^\.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 1 


20  City  Document  No.  115. 

[35.]     Persons  Voted  for  as  Lieu*.   Governor  with  the  num- 
ber of  Votes  for  each  Person Viz*. 

His  Honor  Moses  Gill  Esq. 1062 

Hon*'^®.  James  Bowdoin  Esq.   - 788 

Hon^.  Samuel  Phillips  P^sq. 8 

Hon''.  Increase  Sumner 63 

Hon^^  James  Sullivan 7 

M^  John  Barret 1 

Hon^i^.  William  Heath 6 

Hon".  Elbridge  Gerry 1 

Charles  Jarvis  Esq.  --- I 

Jonathan  Mason  Esq. 1 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Senators  for  the  County  of  vSuffolk  with 
the  number  of  Votes  for  each  Person  Viz*. 

Hon^'i.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 1132 

Hon"^  Oliver  Wendell  Esq. 1918 

Hon**.  Benjamin  Austin  Esq. -     823 

Hon''.  Theop^.  Cushing  Esq. 11 

Hon*''*'.  James  Bowdoin  Esq. 808 

Jonathan  Mason  Esq.    - 1845 

William  Eustis  Esq. 50 

Hon''.  John  Coffin  Jones 1117 

Charles  Jarvis  Esq. 12 

John  Sweetser  Esq. 13 

Arnold  Wells  Jun^ 2 

John  Duggan  -- 7 

John  Magnor  -- 9 

William  Little  Esq. 2 

John  Codman  Esq. 1 

Samuel  Brown  Esq. 2 

John  Winthrop  Esq.      .-_--.--.         2 
Thomas  Edwards  Esq. --         1 

[36.]     Attested  Copies  of  the  Persons  Voted  for  as  Gover- 
nor, Lie*.  Governor,  &  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  were 
committed  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  &  the  Inclosures 
sealed  up  in  Town  Meeting  subscribed  as  follows  Viz*. 
For  John  Avery  Esq. 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

The  number  of  Votes  for  the  Town  of  Boston  for  a  Governor, 
Lie*.  Governor,  &  four  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk ;  Cer- 
tified within  and  sealed  up  in  Town  Meeting. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[37.]     At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified,  &  legally  warned,  in  pub- 


Boston  Town  Records,  1797.  21 

lie  Town  Meeting   Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the 
ll*'^.  Day  of  May,  Anno  Domini  1796,  10  oClock  A.  M. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Eev'^.  M*'.  Elliot 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -     -     read 

That  part  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government  which 
relates  to  the  choice  of  Representatives     -     -     read. 

Sundry  Laws  to  be  read  at  said  Meeting  were  accordingly  (or 
parts  of  them)     -     -     read. 

The  Town  having  determined  by  a  Vote,  to  choose  Seven  Rep- 
resentatives to  Represent  them  in  the  General  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts, to  be  held  in  the  State  House  in  Boston,  on  the  last 
Wednesday  of  May  Current,  agreeable  to  the  Constitution  or 
Frame  of  Government  for  Massachusetts, — the  Inhabitants  were 
directed  by  the  Selectmen  to  withdraw  &  bring  in  their  Votes,  for 
Seven  Representatives,  and  then  it  was  declared  by  the  Select- 
men that  no  Votes  would  be  received  but  such  as  are  unfolded, 
and  that  they  propose  the  Poll  shall  be  closed  at  half  past  one 
OClock ;  the  Assessors  to  attend  at  the.  delivery  of  Votes,  &  the 
Bells  to  begin  tolling  at  1  OClock,  &  continue  tolling  to  the  time 
half  an  Hour  is  expired 

[38.]  The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  Seven  Representatives, 
the  number  of  the  same  were  found  to  be  1582,  and  upon  sort- 
ing them  it  appeared,  that  the  following  Seven  Gentlemen  had 
obtained  a  majority  of  Votes  - --  Viz*. 

William  Eustis  Esq. -  1568 

William  Little  Esq. -  1199 

John  Codman  Esq.    - -1315 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 1564 

Samuel  Cooper  Esq. 896 

M"".  William  Smith 939 

M^  Arnold  Wells  Esq. 931 

The  Votes,  given  in  for  such  as  did  not  obtain  a  Majority  -  Viz*. 

Votes. 

Perez  Morton  Esq'^. 586 

Samuel  Brown  Esq"^. 637 

Hon''^®.  James  Bowdoin  Esq'. 645 

George  Blake  Esq"".    --- 545 

The  scattering  Votes  as  follows     -     -     -     -  Viz*. 

Thomes  Edwards  Esq. 72 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq. 8 

Henry  Hill  Esq. 3 

David  Green 5 


22  City  Document  No.  115. 

William  Parsons  -----------  5 

Thomas  H.  Perkins 3 

Samuel  Cobb -----  5 

David  Tilden -     .     .     -     _  3 

Joseph  Head 2 

Peter  Smink -  2 

David  Townsend _.--  3 

William  Brown 2 

[39.]  John  Duggan  -     -     - 1 

Jonathan  Mason  Esq. -  1 

John  Winthrop  Esq. 2 

Charles  Jarvis  Esq.   - 2 

Aaron  Dexter  Esq.    - -  1 

Joseph  May     --- -  1 

Stephen  Higginson  Esq. 2 

Stephen  Gorham  Esq. 1 

Charles  Vaugn 1 

Daniel  Sargeant -  1 

William  Cooper    - -  1 

William  Spooner 1 

R.  Amory -  1 

John  Sweetser -  1 

Andrew  Oliver 1 

Deacon  Boardman     -- 1 

Joseph  Eaton  ---- 1 

Nath^  Balch 1 

Thomas  S.  Boardman -._  1 

Daniel  Messenger 1 

Adjourned  to  3  OClock  P  :M  : 
3  0.  Clock  P.  M.  Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen. 

The  Hon'^^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 

was  chosen  Moderator  of  this  Meeting,  in  order  that  the  Town 
may  proceed  on  transacting  the  other  affairs  mentioned  in  the 
Warrant  —  the  Adjournment  of  March  Meeting  being  to  the  same 
time  &  place  of  [40]  this  Meeting  in  order  to  choose  Tything 
Men,  if  the  Town  Judge  Proper. 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  when  this  Meeting  is  adjourned  it  shall 
be  to  Monday  next  —  &  the  business  of  the  Adjournment  pub- 
lished in  all  the  News  Papers  for  information  of  the  Inhabitants. 

And  the  Meeting  was  accordingly  Adjourned  to  Monday  next, 
being  the  15**^.  Ins^  10  OClock  A.  M. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1797.  23 

Monday  May  15   1797.   10  OClock  A.  M. 
Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

The  Votes,  being  brought  in  for  two  selectmen  it  appeared  that. 

Benjamin  Austin  Jun'.  Esq. 
Ebenezer  Hancock  Esq. 
were  chose  Selectmen  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  two  School  Committee  Men  — 
it  appeared  that  — 

David  Green  Esq. 

Rev'i.  John  T.  Kirkland 
were  chosen. 

The  choice  of  Tything  Men  referred  to  March  Meeting. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz*.,  To  take  the  sense  of  the 
Town  on  the  expediency  of  having  at  all  future  Elections  a  List 
of  all  the  qualified  [41]  Voters  belonging  to  the  Town"  was 
read  &  considered  whereupon 

1^*.  Voted,  That  the  Assessors  be,  and  they  hereby  are  directed 
to  furnish  the  Select-men  annually,  and  forty  days  at  least  before 
the  first  Monday  in  April,  with  a  list  of  all  the  rateable  Polls 
within  the  town,  noting  in  said  list,  the  names  of  all  those  per- 
sons who  have  had  their  taxes  remitted.  — 

2*^*  Voted  that  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Selectmen  to  cause 
to  be  made  out  annually,  and  ten  days  at  least  before  the  first 
Monday  in  April,  and  to  have  present  at  every  town  meeting 
convened  for  the  election  of  Governor,  L'.  Governor,  Senators,  & 
Representatives  in  the  General  Court,  Representatives  in  Con- 
gress, and  Electors  of  President  &  Vice  President  of  the  United 
States ;  a  fair  and  Alphabetical  list  of  all  the  Inhabitants  of 
the  Town,  being  Citizens,  who  by  the  Constitution  and  Laws  of 
this,  and  the  United  States  are  qualified  to  Vote  at  such  Elections. 

3**.  And  in  order  to  ascertain  what  constitutes  qualified  as  such 
to  vote  at  such  election,  it  is  understood  first,  that  he  was  born 
in  this,  or  some  one  of  the  United  States  and  has  not  since 
become  a  Citizen  or  Subject  of  any  foreign  State  or  Kingdom ; 
secondly,  that  he  has  usually  [resided]  in  this,  or  someone  of  the 
United  States,  from  the  time  of  the  declaration  of  American 
Independence,  or  thirdly,  that  he  has  been  naturalized  according 
to  law. 

[43.]  4'''.  Voted,  that  no  Person  whose  name  shall  not  be 
contained  in  the  before  mentioned  list  shall  be  entitled  to  give  in 
his  Vote,  unless  he  shall  first  produce  satisfactory  evidence  to  the 
Selectmen  that  he  is  duly  qualified,  and  after  receiving  such  satis- 


24  City  Document  No.  115. 

factory  evidence,  the  Selectmen  shall  receive  his  Vote,  and  enroll 
his  name  on  the  list. 

5"^  Voted  that  the  Town  Clerk  shall  publish  the  foregoing 
Votes  in  the  public  news  papers  of  the  week  next  preceding  the 
first  Monday  in  April,  until  the  further  order  of  the  Town. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz*.  "To  consider  what  meas- 
ures shall  be  taken  with  regard  to  watching  the  Town  "  —  read 
and  committed  for  consideration  to 

William  Eustis  Esq. 
Perez  Morton  Esq.  ' 

Col°.  Revere 
CoP.  Winslow 
to  report  thereon  at  the  Adjournment. 

The  Petition  of  Aaron  Jaquish  &  Abraham  French  —  read  & 
Committed  to. — 

CoP.  Proctor 

Maj''.  Russell 

Maj^  Melvill 
to  consider  &  Report  thereon  at  the  Adjournment. 

[43.]  The  Petition  of  M^  Samuel  Hunt  Master  of  the  Latin 
Grammar  School  that  an  allowance  may  be  made  him  for  House 
Rent  —  read  &  referred  to  the  School  Committee 

Petition  relative  to  out  Door  Auctions  read  &  committed  to  — 

Deacon  Brown 
Joseph  Russell  Esq. 
CoP.  Proctor 
to  consider,  and  Report  thereon  at  the  Adjournment. 

The  Article  relative  to  fixing  Sign  Posts  at  Corner  of  Streets, 
Lanes  &  with  the  Name  of  such  Streets  —  read  &  referred  for 
consideration  —  to  the  Committee  relative  to  Out  Door  Auc- 
tions & 

Voted,  on  Motion  that 

D'.  Nathaniel  Noyes 

John  Andrews  Esq. 

Mr.  Samuel  Whitwell 

Maj'".  Bradley 

CoP.  Revere 
be  a  Committee  to  view  &  consider  the  State  of  the  Fish  Mar- 
kets—  &  Report  thereon  at  the  Adjournment. — 

The  Committee  to  Audit  the  Town  Treasurers  Accounts  have 
attended  that  service  and  Report,  they  find  the  Accounts  well 
vouched,  and  right  cast,  that  there  was  due  to  the  Town  the  30"\ 


Boston  Town  Records,  1797. 


25 


April  Ult°.    if  the   out  standing  Debts  can  [44]  be  collected, 
exclusive  of  $17382.74  appropriated 

c.  m. 

to  build  a  new  alms  house $33230.53.9 

from  which  deduct,  Town  Powder      -      1041.94.5 
E.  Brown  41.  11.  2  Acco*. 

In^  1601.97.1  Rents  76 1719.8.3 

&  for  Aba'.  &  Collectors  on  96  Tax  say  -  5.000.       .         7761.2.8 

which  reduces  the  bal.  to 25,469.51.1 

There  is  due  from  the  Collector  on  '96  Tax Viz*. 

Thomas  Bayley      -     -     -     -  13314.46 

Benj*^.  Henderson  -     -     -     -  11230.16 

Benj^  Jepson 13462.25 

Ja^  Thompson       -     -     -     -  13048.84 


151055.71 


Your  Committee  are  of  opinion  the  following  are  the  necessary 
Sums  wanted  for  the  Current  Years  expences  Viz.  -  - 


810000  - 

-  for  School  Masters  &  Ushers 

1000  - 

-  to  repair  Schools,  Wood  &    ^^ 

3000  - 

-  for  Watchman,  Candles  &  Coal, 

2700  - 

-  Assessors  pay  &  allowances 

4000  - 

-  Lamps  Oil  Lighters  &c 

666  - 

-  Town  Clerks  Salary 

666  - 

-  Town  Treasurer  d°. 

300  - 

-  Messenger  to  Selectmen 

33  - 

-  Clerks  of  the  Market 

150  - 

-  Constables  Services 

50  - 

-  Reparing  Clocks 

50  - 

-  Premiums  to  Engine  Men 

275  - 

-  Printing  &  Stationary 

300  - 

-  Ringing  Bells 

7000  - 

-  Paving  Streets 

6000  - 

-  Incidental  Charges  visit^. 
Schools  & 

^   16600  - 

-  Overseers  drafts 

deduct  what 

1   

may  be  rec<*.  for 

'  47.390 

States  Poor  suppose 

^      3.390  - 

-  $44,000 

[45,]  Your  Committee  recommend  that  a  Tax  of  44.000  be 
laid  for  the  present  Years  Expences  —  they  annex  the  Treasurers 
General  Account  and  a  tryal  balance  of  his  Books,  all  which  is 
respectfully  submitted  by  your  Committee.  — 

Herman  Brimmer 

Joseph  Russell  Jun'. 

Samuel  Brown 


26  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  aforegoing  Account  having  been  considered  —  the  Ques- 
tion was  put  —  Whether  the  same  be  accepted — Passed  in  the 
Affirmative.  — 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Forty  thousand  Dollars  be  raised  by  a 
Tax,  to  be  assessed  on  the  Polls  &  Estates  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
the  Town  to  defray  the  Expences  of  the  Current  Year. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Six  hundred  sixty  six  Dollars  be 
allowed,  and  paid  unto  Samuel  Clap  for  his  Services  as  Town 
Treasurer  the  present  Year  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as 
it  shall  become  due  &  to  commence  the  1^*.  March  last.  — 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Six  hundred  sixty  six  Dollars  be 
allowed  &  paid  unto  William  Cooper  for  his  services  as  Town 
Clerk  the  present  Year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly,  as  it 
shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  the  1^  March  last. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Four  hundred  &  thirty  three  Dollars 
be  allowed  to  each  of  the  Assessors  for  their  respective  services 
the  present  [46]  Year  the  same  to  be  paid  them  Quarterly  as  it 
shall  become  due  &  to  commence  the  l^K  March  last 

Adjourned  to  Friday  the  26.  Ins*.  10  Clock  A  :  M  :  — 

Friday  the  26  May  Ins*.,  Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

The  Committee  relative  to  Out  Door  Auctions  &  placing  Sign 
Boards  at  the  heads  of  Streets  Reported  — 

That  directions  at  the  Corners  of  Streets,  will  be  public  Utility, 
&  to  reduce  the  multiplicity  of  Names,  by  calling  a  Street  by  one 
name  only,  till  it  terminates  by  some  boundary,  will  render  the 
direction  less  complex,  &  to  make  it  easy  to  find  the  Store  or 
Dwelling  of  any  Inhabitants  it  will  be  necessary  to  number  the 
Buildings  from  left  to  Right  in  relation  thro  each  Street. 

This  part  of  the  Report  accepted  by  the  Town  &  it  was  Voted, 
that  the  consideration  of  what  relates  to  Out  Door  Auctions  — 
subside 

The  Committee  relative  to  Fish  Stalls,  Report.  That  they 
think  it  highly  necessary  for  the  safety  &  health  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants, that  no  more  Fish  shall  be  exposed  for  sale  in  the  Stall 
usually  improved  for  that  purpose,  in  Market  Square,  but  that 
the  Stalls  be  immediately  shut  up  (the  Salmon  Stall  included). — 
After  consideration  it  was  Voted  that  this  Report  be  accepted, 
also  that  it  is  the  sense  of  the  [47]  Town  not  to  provide 
places  for  Fish  Stalls.  — 

The  Committee  on  Ms.  Jaquish    &    French   Petition    for  the 


Boston  Town  Records,  1797.  27 

restoration  of  the  Towns  part  of  Powder  seized  —  read  and  con- 
sidered, whereupon  Voted,  that  the  Petitioners  have  leave  to 
withdraw  their  Petition.  — 

The  Selectmen  a  Committee  on  Mr.  Samuel  Hunt  Petition, 
Reported  that  his  Petition  would  be  considered,  when  the  other 
Salaries  of  the  School  Masters  are  to  be  taken  up. 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  four  Constables,  when  it 
appeared  that. 

Messrs.  Henry  Cromston 
Samuel  Gridley 
Andrew  Townsend 
Uriah  Moss. 
were  chosen. 

Voted,  that  all  matters  unfinished  be  referred  over  to  the  next 
General  Town  Meeting  that  shall  be  called.  — 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the  Hon^^®. 
Thomas  Dawes  Esq.,  the  Moderator  for  his  good  Services  in  the 
dispatch  given  the  business  of   this  Meeting.  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[48.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned,  in  public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall,  on  Thursday  the 
fifteenth  Day  of  June  A.D.  1797.,  10  0  Clock  A.  M. 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting  —  read. 

Hon'^^^.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant,  Viz*,  to  consider  the  request  of  a 
number  of  the  Inhabitants  that  the  opinion  of  the  Town  may  be 
taken  as  to  the  propriety  and  expediency  of  applying  to  the 
General  Court,  in  this  present  Session,  requesting  them  to  repeal 
the  Law  entitled  an  Act  to  secure  the  Town  of  Boston  against 
damages  by  Fire,  passed  the  last  General  Court"  was  read  & 
considered ,  —  whereupon 

Voted,  that  application  be  made  to  the  General  Court  for  the 
repeal  of  the  said  Act  —  also 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  requested  to  inform  the  Repre- 
sentatives of  this  Town  of  this  Vote,  &  to  desire  them  to  use 
their  influence  in  the  General  Court  for  the  repeal  of  said  Act. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


28  City  Document  No.  115. 

[49.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified,  and  legally  warned  in 
public  Town  Meeting,  at  Faneuil  Hall,  the  4:^^.  Day  of  July 
A.D.  1797. 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting  —  read 

"William  Cooper  was  chosen  Moderator. 

The  Comm**'.  appointed  the  last  Year  to  make  choice  of  a  Gen- 
tleman to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  Independence 
Eeported, 

That  they  had  made  choice  of  John  Callender  Esq. 
who  had  accepted. — 

On  Motion — Adjourned  to  old  Brick  Meeting  House  12. 
0,Clock.— 

AN   ORATION 

to  commemorate,  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  was 
delivered  by  John  Callender  Esq.  at  the  Old  Brick  Meeting 
House. 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are 
appointed  a  Committee  to  wait  on  John  Callender  Esq.,  &  in  the 
name  of  the  Town  to  Thank  him  for  the  elegant  and  spirited 
Oration  this  Day  delivered  by  him  at  the  request  of  the  [50] 
Town  upon  the  Anniversary  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  in  which  according  to  the  Institution  of  the 
Town,  he  considered  the  feelings,  manners  &  principles,  which 
led  to  that  great  National  event  —  and  to  request  of  him  a  Copy 
thereof  for  the  Press. 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  be  and  hereby 
are  appointed  a  Committee  to  apply  to  some  one  learned  &  able 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  4*.  Day  of  July  A.  D. 
1798,  that  Day  being  the  Anniversary  of  the  Independence  of 
the  United  States  of  America ;  wherein  the  Orator  is  to  consider 
the  feelings,  manners  &  principles  which  led  to  this  great 
National  event;  as  well  as  the  important  &  happy  effects, 
whether  General  or  Domestic ;  which  have  already,  or  will  forever 
flow,  from  that  auspicious  Epoch 

Then  the  Meetins;  was  dissolved  — 


1798. 

[51.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
pubUc  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall,  on  Monday  the 
12.  Day  of  March,  Anno  Domini  1798,-9  0. Clock  A.  M.— 


Boston  Town  Records,  1798.  29 

Prayer  made  by  the  Rev*^.  John  Clark  D.  D. 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting     -     -     read 

Sundry  Laws  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting  were  accord- 
ingly    -     -     read 

The  Hon*^^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  by  a 
Hand  Vote. — 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  &  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  a  Town  Clerk,  &  the  same  having  been  brought  in  & 
counted,  it  appeared  that 

William  Cooper 
was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  Year  ensuing,  &  an  Oath  of  Office 
was  administered  by  Mr.  Justice  Vinal. — 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  &  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  9  Selectmen,  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that 
the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen     -     -     Viz'. 

[53.]  ~          Mr.  Ebenezer  Sever 

Thomas  Edwards  Esq. 
William  Little  Esq. 
David  Tilden  Esq. 
Mr.  Russell  Sturgis 
Mr.  Jonathan  Harris 
Cap*.  Joseph  Howard 
Benjamin  Austin  Jun"".  Esq. 
Ebenezer  Hancock  Esq, 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  12  Overseers  of  the 
Poor.  &  the  same  being  sorted  and  counted,  it  appeared  that. — 

Edward  Procter  Esq. 
John  Sweetser  Esq. 
Jonathan  L.  Austin  Esq. 
Mr.  Edward  Edes 
Henry  Hill  Esq. 
William  Smith  Esq. 
William  Phillips  Jun*".  Esq. 
Stephen  Gorham  Esq. 
Mr.  Oliver  Brewster 
Arnold  Wells  Jun"^.  Esq. 
Dr.  Redford  Webster 
Mr.  Thomas  Perkins 
were  chosen  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing. — 

Mr.  Samuel  Clap 
was  chosen  Town  Treasurer  for  the  Year  ensuing  unanimously. 


30  City  Document  No.  115. 

[53.]     The    Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  24   Fire 
Wards  when  it  appeared  that 

John  Winthrop  Esq. 
Thomas  Melville  Esq. 
Jabez  Hatch  Esq. 
Joseph  Russell  Esq. 
Mr.  Edward  Edes 
Amasa  Davis  Esq. 
Samuel  Parkman  Esq. 
Mr.  Russell  Sturgis 
Henry  Jackson 
William  Scollay  Esq. 
William  Little  Esq. 
Mr.  James  Tisdale 
Joseph  May  Esq. 
Cap\  Robert  Gardner 
John  May  Esq. 
Deacon  William  Brown 
Cap*.  Nathaniel  Fellows 
Samuel  Bradford  Esq. 
Joseph  Head 
Thomas  H.  Perkins  Esq. 
John  Winslow  Esq. 
Cap*.  Joseph  Howard 
Benjamin  Joy 
Mr.  Stephen  Codman 
were  chosen  Fire  Wards  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  John  C.  Howard 
Daniel  Sigourney 
John  Avery  Esq. 
Thomas  Geyer 
[54.]  Benjamin  Hodgdon  Jun'. 

Ebenezer  Baker 
Seth  Adams 
Rufus  Davenport 
Ebenezer  L.  Boyd 
William  Whitwell 
Charles  Paine 
Edward  Blake  Jun"^. 
were  chosen  Clerks  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Adjourned  to  3  OClock  P :  M. 

3  OClock  P.  M.  Town  Met. 

Messrs   Joshua  Bently 
Benjamin  Page 
Benjamin  White 
James  Blake 


Boston  Town  Records,  1798.  31 

John  Cogswell 

Edward  Ranger 

James  Bobbins 

Nathi.  Tidmarsh 

William  Darracot 

William  Clouston 

Thomas  Blake 

William  Ellison 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Boards  &  Shingles  for  the  Year  ensu- 
ing,— 

Messrs.  Shubael  Hews 

Thomas  Stevenson 

Amos  Lewis 

Jirah  Holbrook 
[55.']  Samuel  White 

Enoch  May 

Abraham  Tuckerman 

Noah  Butts 

John  French 

William  Low 

Samuel  Gridley 
were  chosen  Constables  for  the  Year  ensuing.  — 

Voted,  that  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  12  Persons  shall  now 
be  chosen  as  a  School  Committee  &  the  Votes  being  brought  in, 
counted  and  sorted,  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen 
were  chose. 

Hon'''®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 

Rev*^.  Samuel  West 

Dr.  Thomas  Welsh 

Revd.  Samuel  Stillman  D.  D. 

Dr.  Aaron  Dexter 

Mr.  William  Smith 

Dr.  WilUam  Spooner 

Mr.  Arnold  Welles  Jun' 

Edward  Gray  Esq. 

David  Greene  Esq. 
•  Rev'i.  J.  T.  Kirkland 

Rufus  G.  Amory  Esq. 

Voted,  that  the  above  named  Gentlemen,  who  conjunctly  with 
the  Selectmen,  are  termed  the  School  Committee,  be  and  hereby 
are  directed  to  carry,  the  New  System  op  Education  which  has 
been  adopted  by  the  Town  into  operation  and  s*^.  committee 
[56]  are  also  authorized  &  impowered  conjunctly  to  manage  & 
regulate  the  Officers  and  Government  of  the  Schools,  &  in  future 
to  exercise  all  the  Powers  relating  to  the  Schools  and  School- 
masters which  the  Selectmen  or  such  Committees  are  authorized 
by  the  Laws  of  the  Commonwealth,  or  the  Votes  of  the  Town  to 
exercise ;   any  former  Votes  of  the  Town  Notwithstanding 


32  City  Document  No.  115. 

Voted,  that  the  Assessors  be  and  hereby  are  directed  to  set  for 
such  abatements  of  taxes,  as  they  shall  Judge  reasonable,  two 
days  in  such  Weeks  after  the  delivery  of  the  Tax  Books  to  the 
Collectors  for  the  space  of  six  Weeks  &  no  longer,  saving  they 
be  allowed  to  sit  the  last  Week  in  February,  Lords  day  excepted, 
for  the  abatement  of  the  taxes  of  such  Persons  as  had  not  the 
opportunity  of  applying  in  the  above  limited  time,  by  reason  of 
their  being  out  of  this  Commonwealth,  or  any  other  unavoidable 
hindrance,  and  that  the  Assessors  determine  on  the  said  two  days, 
which  is  to  be  noted  on  the  tax  Bill  to  be  delivered  the  Inhabi- 
tants.— 

Voted,  that  5  P  Cent  be  &  hereby  are  allowed  to  the  Collectors  of 
Taxes,  for  the  Year  ensuing  for  all  such  Sums  of  Money  &  public 
Securities  as  they  shall  collect  &  pay  into  the  several  Treas- 
urers of  the  sum  committed  to  them  [57]  to  collect. —  Also  that 
such  Collectors  shall  give  bond  with  sufficient  sureties  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  the  Selectmen  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  Duty 
in  said  Office,  and  complying  with  this  Vote ;  and  that  they  will 
not  receive  any  Premium  or  Gratuity  for  discounting  any  Orders, 
Notes,  or  Eeceipts  from  the  Treasurer  of  this  State,  or  the  Treas- 
urer of  this  Town. — 

Votes,  for  a  Treasurer  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  brought  in  and 
counted  by  the  Moderator  and  Town  Clerk,  when  it  appeared 
that  the  whole  number  was  316.,  of  which  311.  were  for  Mr. 
Ebenezer  Sever  &  5  for  Mr.  Samuel  Clap,  both  discreet  suitable 
persons  being  Freeholders,  &  residents  in  said  County,  Sealed  & 
delivered  Mr.  Price  Clerk  Sessions. 

Voted,  that  Herman  Brimmer 

Joseph  Russell 

Samuel  Brown  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the  Accompts 
of  the  Town  Treasurer,  and  also  the  Accompts  of  the  Selectmen 
&  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  said  Committee  are  also  directed 
to  report  the  Sum  necessary  to  be  raised  for  the  services  of  the 
present  Year. — 

[58.]  The  votes  being  brought  in  for  five  Assessors  it 
appeared  that  only. 

Gyles  Harris  Esq. 

Mr.  John  R.  Sigourney 

Mr.  Caleb  Blanchard 

Mr.  Ebenezer  Seaver 
were  chose  Assessors  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Thomas  Bradley 
David  Hollis 
Matthew  Loring 
Tho«.  Sullivan 
were  chose  Sealers  of  Leather  for  the  Year  ensuing. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1798.  33 

Messrs.  Benjamin  White 
Moses  Ayers 
Dan^  Ingersol 
were  chose  fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Daniel  Bell 

George  Hamlin 
were  chose  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Edward  Jones 
George  Hamlin 
Benjamin  Simpson 
were  chose  Haywards  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

[59.^]  Mr.  Edward  Rumley 

was  chosen  an  Inspector  of  Stone  Lime  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Jeffry  Richardson 
Isaac  P.  Davis 
were  chose  Surveyors  of  Hemp  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Edward  Tuckerman  Esq. 
Mr.  Edward  Edes 
were  chose  Surveyors  of  Wheat  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Eoger  Bai'tlett 
Joseph  Doble 
Jonathan  Gushing 
were  chose  Cullers  of  Dry  Fish  for  the  Year  ensuing, 

Messrs.  Joshua  Weatherby 
John  Wells 
were  chose  Assay  Masters  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Selectmen 
were  chose  Surveyors  of  High  Ways  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Voted,  that  all  Money  matters  be  referred  to  May  Meeting.  — 

On  Motion 

Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen,  [60]  the  Overseers  of 
the  Poor  be  a  Committee  to  confer  with  the  Committee  for  Build- 
ing an  Alms  House,  &  Report  at  the  Adjournment. 

Adjourned  to  3.  O  Clock  P.  M. 
3.  O  Clock  P :  M.  Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

Messrs.  Howard,  Sever  &  Sturgis  who  have  been  rechosen  as 
Selectmen,  wished  the  Town  to  excuse  them  by  their  respective 


34  City  Document  No.  115. 

Letters  from  Serving  in  that  Office  for  reasons  offered,  but  they 
were  desired  to  take  their  seats  again,  as  Selectmen,  at  least 
until  the  Adjournment. 

Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz*.  "  To  consider  the  request  of  the 
Assessors  that  some  further  compensation  may  be  made  them  for 
their  services  tbe  past  Year — read,  &  the  Question  being  put 
passed  in  the  negative. — 

The  Article  in  the  "Warrant  viz  ' '  To  take  into  Consideration  a 
late  law  of  this  Commonwealth  entitled  "  An  Act  to  prevent  the 
spread  of  Contagious  Distempers,"  And  to  determine  whether 
they  will  choose  &  appoint  a  health  Committee,  or  one  person  as 
a  health  Officer,  according  to  Law — was  read  whereupon 

Voted,  the  Hon^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 

William  Cooper 

Dr.  Joseph  Warren 

Dr.  William  Eustis 
[61.]   be  a  Committee  to  take  up  &  Report  of  this  Article  at  the 
Adjournment. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant,  \'iz*.  Whether  it  shall  be  judged 
necessary  that  the  Selectmen  shall  appoint  one  or  more  suitable 
persons,  for  measurers  of  Wood  &  Bark,  brought  into  Town  for 
sale,  according  to  a  late  law  of  this  Commonwealth — was  read, 
as  also  the  late  law  referred  to,  whereupon  Moved,  & 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  follow  the  directions 
of  the  Law  mentioned  in  said  Article. — 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz*.  To  consider  the  request  of 
the  Fishermen  who  have  stands  on  the  Dock,  that  they  may  be 
assisted  by  the  Town  to. obtain  others  more  advantageous  to  the 
Inhabitants,  and  themselves,  than  those  which  they  now  improve," 
— read,  whereupon — 

Voted  that  John  Andrews  Esq. 

CoP.  Waters 

Mr.  Samuel  Whitwell  Jun^ 

CoP.  Bradford    ' 

CoP.  Revere 
be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  matter,  &  Report  at  the  Adjourn- 
ment. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant — viz*. — 
[63.  ]     To  appoint  a  Committee  to  confer  with  a  Committee  of 
the  General  Court  respecting  the  disposal  of  the  Old  State  House  " 
— was  read, — whereupon 


Boston  Town  Records,  1798.  35 

Voted,  that  William  Eustis  Esq. 

Josiah  Waters  Esq. 

William  Smith  Esq. 
be  &  hereby  are  authorized  &  directed  to  confer  with  said  Com- 
mittee of  General  Court  &  Report  at  the  Adjournment. 

Article  in  the  Warrant  viz^,  To  take  into  consideration  the 
expediency  of  selling  by  Auction  the  Stands  in  the  Market,  or 
any  other  measures  for  the  regulation  of  the  same,  —  was  read  — 
whereupon 

Voted,  that  John  Vinal  Esq. 

Col°.  Winslow 

CoP.  Waters, 

Sam^.  Brown  Esq. 

Benjamin  Austin  Jun''. 
be  a  Committee  to  consider  this  matter  &  Report  at  the  Adjourn- 
ment. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz*.  —  To  consider  the  request  of 
a  number  of  Black  Persons  relative  to  the  education  of  their 
Children  —  was  read  —  and  a  Motion  made  that  this  request  be 
committed  &  the  Question  being  put  —  passed  in  the  affirma- 
tive.— 

[63.]  The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  four  Collectors  of 
Taxes,  it  appeared  that  — 

Messrs.  Benjamin  Henderson 
Thomas  Bayley 
James  Thompson 
Benjamin  Jepson 
were  chose  Collectors  for  the  Year  ensuing.  — 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  12  OClock  AM  at  the  Adjournment  of 
this  Meeting  be  assigned  for  the  choice  of  another  Assessor. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz*.  What  steps  shall  be  taken  to 
prevent  dead  Carcasses  being  thrown  into  the  Mill  Pond — was 
read  —  whereupon  moved  & 

Voted,  that  Hon**^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 

William  Cooper 

John  Warren  Esq. 

William  Eustis  Esq. 
a   Committee  relative  to  Health  be  a  Committee  to  consider  & 
Report  thereon  at  the  Adjournment. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz*.  To  prevent  the  Sale  of  Oysters 
in  the  Summer  Months,  read  and  committed  to  the  above  named 
Comm®*.  viz*. 


36  City  Document  No.  115. 

Hon^.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 

William  Cooper 

John  Warren  Esq. 

William  Eustis  Esq. 
who  are  desired  to  consider,  &  Report  thereon  at  the  Adjourn- 
ment. 

[64.]  Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Wednesday 
the  21®'.  of  March  Ins*.,  then  to  meet  in  this  place  9.  OClock 
A.M  &  it  was  accordingly  Adjourned. — 

Wednesday  the  21.  of  March  1798.,  9.  OClock  A.M.  Met 
according  to  Adjournment. 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Tucker 
chosen  a  Clerk  of  the  Market  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Joseph  Loring 
Thomas  Barbour 
George  Singleton 
Edward  Burt 
Thomas  Foster 
William  Parkman 
John  Bray 
Henry  Purkitt 
Jonathan  Cushing 
James  Barry 
Hezeldah  Hut  son 
Philip  Hichborn 
Timothy  Pease 
Job  Wheelwright  Jun"". 
William  Fenno 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Boards  &  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Votes,  brought  in  for  one  Constable,  &  no  one  having  a  ma- 
jority of  Votes,  the  choice  of  one  is  referred  to  May  Meeting. 

[65.]  Committee  relative  to  Stalls  in  the  Market  Reported, 
and  the  same  having  been  read,  it  was  moved  &  Voted,  that  the 
Report  be  recommitted  &  the  Committee  are  directed  to  have  said 
Report  printed,  &  dispersed  among  the  Inhabitants  &  they  are 
requested  to  Report  again  at  the  Adjournment 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  Consideration  a  late  law 
of  this  Commonwealth,  entitled,  an  Act  to  prevent  the  spreading 
of  contagious  distempers,  And  whether  the  Town  will  appoint  a 
health  Committtee  or  one  person  as  a  health  Officer.  "  And  what 
steps  shall  be  taken  to  prevent  dead  Carcasses,  or  other 
Nuisances  being  thrown  in  the  Mill  Pond,  And  to  prevent  the 
sale  of  Oysters  in  the  summer  Months,  Ask  leave  to  Report  as 


Boston  Town  Recokds,  1798.  37 

their  Opinion  —  first,  that  it  is  expedient  for  the  town  to  appoint 
one  person  as  a  health  Officer  agreeably  to  the  Law  before 
mentioned,  And  that  it  be  a  part  of  his  duty  to  prevent  dead 
carcasses,  &  other  nuisances  being  thrown  into  the  Mill 
Pond,  &  to  cause  any  to  be  removed  on  Complaint  of  any  of 
the  Inhabitants,  and  that  the  Selectmen  be  requested  to  cause 
enquiry  to  be  made  into  the  right  of  the  Proprietors  of  the  Mill 
Pond  to  shut  the  flood  Gates  at  West  Boston,  &  to  take  suitable 
measures  for  opening  the  same  in  order  that  the  health  of  the 
Inhabitants  may  be  promoted ;  Second,  That  it  is  expedient  for 
the  Town  to  pass  a  by  Law  prohibiting  the  [66]  Sale  of  Oysters 
within  the  Town,  in  the  months  of  June,  July  &  August  —  which 
is  submitted 
Boston  March  21.  1798.  Tho^  Dawes  P.  Order. 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  &  considered  was 
accepted  by  the  Town. 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  the  Health  Committee. 

The  Committee  relative  to  new  Alms  house,  &°.  Reported,  & 
the  consideration  referred  to  May  Meeting. 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  one  Assessor,  &  the  same 
being  sorted  &  counted  —  it  appeared  that 

CoP.  John  Hurd 
was  chosen  an  Assessor  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  choice  of  any  further  Selectmen  referred  to  May  Meeting. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Town  to  Consider  the  Request 
of  the  Fishermen  have  attended  that  Business,  Consulted  the 
Petitioners,  &  Confered  with  the  Proprietors  of  the  Dock,  who 
are  disposed  to  accommodate  the  Fishermen  in  a  manner  that  will 
be  agreeable  &  Satisfactory  to  all  Parties 
Wednesday  21^'.  March  98)  John  Andrews  P.  Order 

[67.]  The  aforegoing  Report — was  read  and  accepted  by 
the  Town. 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  adjourned  to  Wednes- 
day the  4  Day  of  April  next  10  O  Clock,  &  it  was  accordingly 
Adjourned. 

Wednesday  the  4.^^.  April  10  O  Clock  P.  M.  Met  according 
to  Adjournment. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  relative  to  the  Regulations  of  the 
Market,  was  again  read,  and  considered  by  Paragraphs,  &  after 
amendment  the  same  was  accepted  by  the  Town  —  but  on 
Motion 


38  City  Document  No.  115. 

Voted,  that  said  Report  be  again  referred  to  said  Committee, 
to  give  it  such  correction,  &  to  make  such  additions  as  they  may 
Judge  necessary,  &  to  Report  to  the  Town  at  May  Meeting. 

The  late  Vote  relative  to  Fish  Market  was  reconsidered,  & 
said  Matter  referred  to  same  Committee 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  the  Hon^'^. 
Thomas  Dawes  Esq.,  the  Moderator  for  the  dispatch  given  to  the 
business  of  this  Meeting. 

> 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[68.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Boston,  of  twenty  one  Years  of  Age  &  upwards,  qualified  as  the 
Constitution  prescribes,  &  legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meet- 
ing Assembled,  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  2^^  Day  of  April, 
Anno  Domini  1798. 

Prayer  by  the  Rev*^.  Mr.  Baldwin. 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting     -     -     read 

Paragraph  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Groverment  relative 
to  the  choice  of  Governor,  Lieu*.  Governor  &  Senators  -     read 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Vote  would  be 
received  but  such  as  are  unfolded,  &  that  they  purpose  the  Poll 
shall  be  closed  at  half  past  one  O  Clock  — The  Votes  to  be  received 
at  the  Table, — and  the  Bell  to  begin  tolling  at  1.  OClock. — 

Persons  voted  for  as  governor  with  the  number  of  J^otes  for 
each  Person. -     Viz*. 

Votes 

His  Excellency  Increase  Sumner     -----  1461 

Hon'''''.  James  Sullivan  Esq. 103 

Hon'"^   Edward  H.   Robins  Esq. 2 

His  Honor  Moses  Gill  Esq. 2 

[69.]      Hon^'«.  William  Heath  Esq. 6 

Hon'"®.  Benjamin  Austin  Jun"".  Esq.      -     -     -     -  1 

Mr.  Asa  Penniman 3 

Hon''®.  Benjamin  Austin  Esq. 2 

Hon''®,  James  Bowdoin  Esq.  -- 1 

Persons  voted  for  as  Lie*.  Governor  with  the  number  of  votes 
for  each  Person. Viz*. 

His   Honor  Moses  Gill  Esq. -     1557 

Hon"®.  William  Heath  Esq. 8 

Hon''®.  James  Bowdoin  Esq.  -------  9 


Boston  Town  Records,  1798.  39 

Hon*'^  Samuel  Phillips  Esq. 1 

Hon''®.  Stephen  Higginson  Esq.  ------  1 

Jonh  Vinal  Esq. 3 

John  S.  Lilley     -     - 1 

Persons  voted  for  as  senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  with 

the  number  of  Votes  for  each  Person. 

Votes 

Hon^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.    -     - 1280 

Hon''^  Oliver  Wendell  Esq. 1574 

Hon''®.  Benjamin  Austin  Jun.  Esq. 10 

Hon''®.  John  Coffin  Jones  Esq. 1283 

Hon''®.  James  Bowdoin  Esq. 298 

Hon"®.  Thomas  Davis  Esq. 1279 

WilUam  Tudor  Esq. 299 

John  Codman  Esq.  - _  282 

William  Eustis  Esq. .-.  9 

[70.]      Charles  Jarvis  Esq. 3 

Michael  Moses  Hayes 1 

Perez  Morton  Esq. 1 

Mr.  Russell  Sturgis 1 

John  Sweetser  Esq. 2 

Mr.  John  Wear 1 

Mr.  Andrew  Townsend 2 

Mr.  Amos  Lewis      ---- _  3 

Mr.  John  Peters 2 

Harrison  Gray  Otis  Esq. _-_  l 

Dr.  Black  Peter 1 

Capt.  Nickerson 2 

P.  A.  Serreson 1 

Thomas  Edwards  Esq.       -----.__  l 

Edward  Blake 2 

Hon''®.  James  Sullivan  Esq. --  2 

Attested  Copies  of  the  Persons  voted  for  as  governor.  Lieu*. 

GOVERNOR,   &  senators,   for  the  County  of  Suffolk  were  com- 
mitted to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  &  the  Inclosure 

sealed  up  in  Town  Meeting  subscribed  as  follows     -     -     -  Viz*. 
For  John  Avery  Esq. 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts 

The  number  of  Votes  for  the  Town  of  Boston  for  a  Governor 
Lieu*.  Governor  &  four  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  Certi- 
fied within,  and  sealed  up  in  Town  Meeting. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[71.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualifyed  &  legally  warned  in 
public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Tuesday  the 
15*'\  Day  of  May,  A.D.  1798,  10  OClock  A.M. 


40  City  Document  No.  115. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Rev*^.  Dr.  Parker 
Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting      -     -     read 

That  part  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government  which 
relates  to  the  choice  of  Representatives  read. — 

The  Town  having  determined  by  a  Vote  to  choose  Seven  Rep- 
resentatives to  Represent  them  in  the  General  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts, to  be  held  in  the  State  House  in  Boston,  on  the  last 
Wednesday  of  May  Current,  agreeably  to  the  Constitution  or 
Frame  of  Government  for  Massachusetts,  the  Inhabitants  were 
directed  by  the  Selectmen  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their  Votes 
for  Seven  Representatives,  and  then  it  was  declared  by  the 
Selectmen  that  no  Votes  would  be  received  but  such  as  are 
unfolded,  and  that  they  purpose  the  Poll  shall  be  closed  at  ^  past 
1.  OClock,  the  Assessors  to  attend  at  the  dehvery  of  Votes,  & 
the  Bell  to  begin  tolling  to  the  time  of  -^  an  Hour  is  Expired. 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  Seven  Representatives,  the 
number  of  the  same  were  found  to  be  [73]  1296.  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeared,  that  the  following  Seven  Gentlemen 
had  obtained  a  Majority  of  Votes.     Viz'. 

Votes 

John  Codman  Esq. 974 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 1058 

Arnold  Wells  Jun^ 1048 

William  Smith  Esq. 1027 

Mr.  Samuel  Cobb 875 

John  Lowell  Jun"".  Esq. 896 

Joseph  May  Esq. 840 


The  Votes  given  in  for  such  as  did  not  obtain  a  Majority  Viz*. 

William  Eustis  Esq. 498 

Stephen  Gorham  Esq. 77 

Samuel  Parkman  Esq. 77 

Rufus  Amory 45 

William  Tudor 25 

Deacon  J  Magner 12 

William  Spooner 30 

Maj^  Benjamin  Russell 13 

John  Duggan _-._  12 

William  Little  Esq. 10 

Hon"'*'.  Stephen  Higginson  Esq. 13 

Herman  Brimmer -  9 

&  83  other  Scattering  Votes. 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over  &  declared  by  the 
Selectmen. 

The  Hon^'^  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 
was  chosen  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  in  order  that  the  Town 


Boston  Town  Records,  1798.  41 

may  proceed  in  transacting  the  [73]  other  affairs  mentioned  in 
the  Warrant. 

Adjourned  to  3  OClock  P.M. 

3  O  Clock  P  :M  :  Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

Committee  on  Town  Treasurers  Account  asked  leave  to  Report 
at  the  Adjournment. 

Mr.  Sever,  Mr.  Howard,  &  Mr.  Sturgis  having  resigned  as 
Selectmen  had  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  for  their  good  services 
while  in  that  office. 

Article  in  the  Warrant  viz*,  to  consider  the  Request  of  the 
Aqueduct  Corporation  that  the  Town  will  grant  or  Lease  a  Piece 
of  Ground  Forty  Feet  square  on  Fort  Hill  for  a  Reservoir  for  the 
Aqueduct,  and  to  act  respecting  the  same  as  may  appear  to  be 
proper  —  and  also  whether  the  Town  will  allow  the  said  Corpora- 
tion the  Privilege  of  securing  &  boring  their  Logs  on  the  Beach 
at  the  foot  of  the  Common,  was  read whereupon 

Voted,  that  Judge  Wendell 

Josiah  Quincy  Esq. 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 

Judge  Minot 

Dr.  Eustis 
be  a  Committee  to  take  this  matter  into  consideration  and  Report 
at  the  Adjournment. 

[74:.]  Mr.  Andrew  Townsend 

was  chosen  a  Constable  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Committee  relative  to  Market  Reported,  &  the  Question  being 
put  whether  the  same  shall  be  accepted.  Passed  in  the  Affirma- 
tive, &  the  Committee  are  desired  to  Report  from  time  to  time, 
any  further  regulation  they  may  judge  needful  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Inhabitants     -     -     -     -     which  Report  is  as  follows  Viz*.  — 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Expediency  of  setting 
the  Stalls  in  the  Market  and  what  other  measures  are  proper  to 
be  taken  for  regulating  the  same  have  attended  that  Service,  and 
after  mature  consideration  Report  the  following  which  is  respect- 
fully submitted. 

The  Convenience  and  Utility  of  Public  Markets  in  populous 
Towns  are  so  evident  from  the  Establishment  of  them  in  the  sev- 
eral large  Cities  and  Towns,  not  only  in  Europe,  but  in  the 
United  States,  that  the  Committee  consider  it  needless  to  point 
out  the  Advantages  resulting  therefrom  :  as  the  Citizens  by  having 
a  particular  place  appropriated  for  the    purpose  of  purchasing 


42  City  Document  No.  115. 

Provisions  are  enabled  more  readily  to  furnish  themselves  with 
necessary  supplies,  daily  wanted  in  [75]  their  Families  —  A 
Public  Market  thus  estabUshed  depends  for  its  Utility  &  Con- 
venience on  such  prudential  measures  as  may  be  adopted  for  the 
regulation  of  the  same.  The  Committee  therefore  propose  the 
following  Plan  for  the  Consideration  of  the  Town. 

1^*.  The  Stalls  and  other  Stands  within  the  Market  Square  be  let 
by  the  the  Selectmen  for  such  Periods  as  they  may  judge  proper, 
and  at  such  prices  as  to  them  may  seem  meet ;  The  Rents  to  be 
collected  daily,  Weekly  or  otherwise,  as  the  Selectmen  may  order 
by  the  Clerk  of  the  Market,  who  shall  be  sworn  to  the  faithful 
discharge  of  his  Duty,  and  shall  every  Month  account  with  the 
Selectmen  for  the  Monies  he  receives,  deducting  therefrom  his 
Allowance  for  services.  And  in  order  that  the  Persons  occupying 
the  Stalls  may  be  known  to  the  Citizens,  the  Names  of  the  Occu- 
pier shall  be  painted  at  full  length  in  a  conspicuous  place  on 
their  stall  —  The  person  thus  hireing  shall  not  transfer  the  use 
of  his  stall  to  any  person  unless  the  selectmen  approve  thereof 
and  but  one  stall  be  let  to  one  person  and  [when]  two  or  more 
persons  are  in  partnership  together  there  shall  be  but  one  stall  im- 
proved by  them.  That  every  person  improving  a  stall  shall  fur- 
nish himself  with  scales  and  weights  to  weigh  every  commodity 
which  is  commonly  sold  by  weight  and  if  any  person  [76]  should 
be  found  to  weigh  with  steelyards  after  the  first  day  of  June  he 
or  they  shall  be  deprived  of  his  or  their  stall  or  stand. 

No  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  [shall]  be  permitted  to 
occupy  any  stall  or  stand  within  the  Market  Square  unless  he 
shall  contract  in  Writing  with  a  penality  annexed,  with  the  Clerk 
of  the  Market  by  Permission  of  the  Selectmen,  that  he  nor  any 
acting  under  him  shall  not  expose  for  sale  at  such  place  any 
Articles  except  Beef,  Pork,  Mutton  or  Veal.  — 

When  any  Person  holding  or  occupying  a  Stall  or  Stand  if  found 
guilty  of  buying  any  Articles  of  Provisions  within  the  Town  of 
Boston  to  sell  again  at  an  advanced  Price  within  the  Market 
Square  or  in  the  Town  he  shall  no  longer  be  permitted  to  hold  any 
Stand  or  Stall  within  the  Square. 

The  Streets  within  the  vicinity  of  the  Market  &  leading  to 
said  Market  shall  not  be  encumbred  with  Stalls,  Wheelbarrows 
Benches  or  any  other  vehicle  for  the  accommodation  of  selling 
any  Article  or  Articles  whatever,  whether  Provisions  Bread  or 
any  kind  of  Merchandize :  and  the  Officer  or  Officers  of  Police 
shall  cause  to  be  removed  all  such  obstructions  should  any  occur 
as  speedily  as  possible. 

Sellers  of  Meat  Vegetables  Fruit  or  any  Article  [77]  of  Pro- 
visions, shall  not  be  permitted  to  continue  in  the  Market  Square 
for  the  Sale  of  any  Article  whatever  after  two  of  the  Clock  in  the 


Boston  Town  Records,  1798.  43 

Afternoon  except  on  Saturdays  the  Days  preceding  Fast,  Thanks- 
givings and  Christmas  —  This  Regulation  is  recommended  that  the 
Clerk  of  the  Market  may  have  time  to  cleanse  the  same  of  all 
those  Substances  which  have  a  Tendency  from  Putridity  to  injure 
the  Health  of  the  Citizens. 

gth^  Wheelbarrows  of  any  kind  Hand  Sleds  or  Hand  Carts  or 
any  other  Vehicle  of  Conveyance  shall  not  be  suffered  to  stand  in 
Market  Square  for  the  sale  of  any  Article  except  such  as  are 
excepted  in  the  5  Paragraph. 

7*'^.  The  Horses  &  Carts  shall  not  be  permitted  to  stand  in  Mar- 
ket Square  for  more  than  half  an  Hour  after  their  Arrival  in  said 
Square. 

8*'^.  The  Clerk  of  the  Market  by  Order  of  the  Selectmen  shall 
put  the  Laws  in  execution  against  Persons  who  may  presume  to 
expose  for  sale  small  Meats,  of  any  kind  blowed  or  wounded  and 
if  experience  shall  render  it  necessary,  the  Officer  or  Officers  of 
Police  shall  aid  him  in  the  same. 

9*.  The  Committee  recomend  that  a  Bell  be  provided  and  erected 
in  the  Cupola  of  Faneuil  Hall  to  announce  the  oppeniug  and  clos- 
ing the  Market  House  which  Bell  shall  strike  at  six  of  the  Clock 
[78]  in  the  Morning  from  the  first  of  May  to  the  first  of 
October ;  and  at  eight  of  the  Clock  in  the  Morning  from  the  first 
of  October  to  the  first  of  May  —  Those  Hours  to  be  fixed  for 
opening  the  Market  House.  At  two  of  the  Clock  P.M.  through 
out  the  Year  the  Bell  shall  announce  the  closeing  of  the  Market. — 

The  Market  House  shall  instantly  be  shut  and  within  half  an 
Hour  after  the  Market  place  shall  be  cleared  of  every  Article  of 
whatever  description  or  Name. 

And  any  Person  presuming  to  tarry  after  the  time  specifyed  in 
the  fifth  Article  for  the  sale  of  any  Article  therein  mentioned  shall 
not  afterwards  be  admitted  to  hold  a  Stall  or  Stand  in  the  Mar- 
ket Place. 

The  Clerk  of  the  Market  shall  be  ordered  by  the  Selectmen  to 
put  into  full  force  the  By  Laws  of  the  Town  as  they  relate  to  the 
Market  so  far  as  necessity  requires. 

The  Committee  recommend  that  the  Selectmen  be  requested  to 
give  instructions  to  the  Officer  or  Officers  of  Police  and  the  Clerk 
of  the  Market  with  a  Copy  of  the  foregoing  Regulation  with 
Orders  to  put  the  same  into  execution  from  &  after  the  first  Day 
of  June  next.  And  it  is  recommended  that  the  same  be  published 
in  y*^.  several  [79]  News  Papers  of  this  Town  for  the  informa- 
tion of  all  whom  it  may  concern.     Thus  far  your  Committee  have 


44  City  Document  No.  115. 

proceeded,  they  have  endeavoured  to  collect  the  Ideas  of  observ- 
ing Citizens  upon  which  with  other  enquires,  and  their  own  obser- 
vation this  Report  is  founded. 

Your  Committee  are  further  of  opinion  that  as  old  Customs  are 
not  soon  departed  from  the  Business  of  a  Reform  in  the  Market 
may  be  entered  upon  with  deliberation  attended  with  improvement 
and  pursued  with  firmness  untill  a  Reform  wished  for  by  every 
good  Citizen  shall  be  accomplished  &  therefore  recommend  that  a 
Committee  be  appointed  therefore  who  shall  Report  to  the  Town 
as  Circumstances  require  and  opportunity  may  peimit  what  further 
Regulations  may  be  expedient. 

John  Vinal  P.  Order. 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  &  considered  was 
approved  of  &  accepted  by  y^.  Town,  and  the  Committee  are 
desired  to  Report  from  time  to  time  any  further  Regulations 
they  may  Judge  needful  for  the  benefit  of  y®.  Inhabitants. 

The  Committee  Report  relative  to  Fish  Stands. 
The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Town  to  Consider  what  meas- 
ures can  be  adopted  to  accommodate  [80]  the  Fishermen  with 
Stands  for  the  disposal  of  their  Fish  agreeable  to  their  Petition, 
have  attended  the  Business  and  the  only  Eligible  situation  they 
can  find  is  at  Pitts  Wharf e  over  the  Creek  which  they  are  sorry 
to  find  does  not  meet  with  the  Approbation  of  the  Petitioners 
They  therefore  must  submit  the  business  to  the  Town  whether 
they  will  afford  them  a  Stand  in  their  Old  situation  near  the 
Vegetable  Stall  which  your  Committee  cannot  by  any  means 
recommend. 

Boston  May.  1798.  Jn°.  Andrews 

Paul  Revere. 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  and  considered  was 
accepted  by  the  Town. 

The  Inhabitants  having  brought  in  their  Votes  for  three 
Selectmen  it  appeared  that 

Mr.  William  Porter 
William  Sherburne 
Ebenr.  Oliver 
were  chosen. 

Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz^  To  consider  what  measures  shall 
be  taken  relative  to  the  Towns  Land  on  the  neck  was  read  — 
whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  lease  the  Lands  as  usual. — 

[81.]  Adjourned  to  Tuesday  next  being  22*^.  Ins^  10 
OClock  &  the  Selectmen  were  previously  desired  to  advertize  in 


Boston  Town  Records,  1798.  45 

the  Public  Prints    that  all  Money  matters  would  then  be  taken 
up  and  acted  upon  by  the  Town. 

Tuesday  May  22'*.  1798  10  OClock  Met  according  to  Adjourn- 
ment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  and  report  upon  the  re- 
quest of  the  Aqueduct  Corporation  beg  leave  to  Report  that  they 
have  attended  their  Duty  in  that  respect  and  are  of  Opinion  that 
the  said  Corporation  be  allowed  the  Privilege  of  securing  by 
booming  their  logs  on  such  part  of  the  beach  at  the  foot  of  the 
Common  and  for  such  a  Period  of  time  as  the  Selectmen  in  their 
discretion  may  appoint.  But  that  it  is  not  expedient  to  suffer 
any  building  to  be  erected  or  continued  on  the  Towns  Land  there 
lying  for  boring  Logs  or  for  any  other  purpose  whatsoever. 

The  Committee  further  beg  leave  to  Report  that  as  it  respects 
a  grant  or  Lease  of  a  piece  of  Land  Forty  feet  square  on  Fort 
Hill  for  a  Reservoir  they  have  examined  the  same  and  are  of 
opinion  that  the  Selectmen  of  this  Town  are  the  best  Judges  of 
the  Expediency  and  if  expedient  of  the  manner  conditions  & 
limits  of  such  Grantor  Lease  [83]  and  that  the  same  be  referred 
to  them  with  full  Powers  to  decide  &  act  accordingly. 

P.  Order.  Josiah  Quincy  Chm 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  &  considered  was 
accepted  by  the  Town  also 

Voted,  that  tho  it  is  inexpedient  that  the  building  erected  by 
the  Aqueduct  Corporation  at  the  bottom  of  the  Common  for 
boring  their  Logs  should  be  continued,  Yet  as  the  same  is  now 
erected  and  it  will  occasion  great  delay  in  their  Works  to  erect 
another  this  season,  the  Selectmen  are  impowered  to  allow  the 
same  to  be  continued  for  a  term  not  exceeding  one  Year  from 
this  Day  upon  the  said  Corporation  giving  bond  to  the  Town 
Treasurer  to  the  Acceptance  of  the  Selectmen  in  the  Sum  of  five 
thousand  Dollars  conditioned  to  remove  the  same  building  at  the 
end  of  said  Term  or  sooner  if  the  Selectmen  shall  order  the  same 
to  be  removed  and  to  pay  such  Sum  for  the  privilege  as  shall  be 
Stipulated  in  said  Condition  to  take  such  measures  as  shall  be 
contained  in  the  same  condition  to  save  the  Interest  of  the  Town 
harmless  from  any  injury  in  consequence  of  improving  the  same 
building  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  erected. 

Mr.  Oliver  having  excused  himself  [83]  as  a  Selectman  the 
Votes  being  brought  in  for  one  Selectman  it  appeared  that 

Mr.  John  Tileston 
was  chose  Selectman  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

On   Representation  of   the  Assessors  praying  that   the  Town 


46  City  Document  No.  115. 

would  grant  them  the  same  for  their  servises  for  the  Year  1797. 
as  they  did  the  preceeding  Year  1796. 

Voted,  that  an  allowance  of  One  hundred  Dollars  be  made  each 
of  them  for  the  Year  1797  on  Account  of  the  rise  of  Provisions. 

The  Committee  Appointed  to  Audit  the  Town  Treasurer 
Account  have  Attended  that  service  &  Report  they  find  the 
Accounts  well  Vouched  and  right  cast.  That  there  was  due  to 
the  Town  the  30"\  April  Ult°.  by  the  Books  Exclusive  of  the 
Money  appropriated  for  building  a  new  Alms  House  $17382.74 

say $34211  .  67  .  6 

From  which  deduct  Towns  ) 

Powder \    1041  -  94 

E.  Breens  debt  -     -     -     -  41-11-2 

Interest  Account  -     -     -     -        2672-     6-1 
Rents  outstand^.  -     -     .     .  13-33 

Abatements  on  1797.  Tax  -        2000 
Collectors  Premium  -     -     -        3600 

9368  -  44  -  8 


Which  reduces  the  Balance  to $24843  -  22 


[84-.]     There  is  due  from  the  Collectors  on  1797.  Tax  Viz. 

Thomas  Bayley 10338.30 

Benj".  Henderson    -     -     -     .  8342  .  58 

Benj".  Jepson 9877  .  77 

James  Thompson    -     -     -     .  9668  .  24 

Cents. 
$38226  .  89 


The    following    Sums    are    necessary    for   the    Current   Years 
Expences  Viz. 

School  Masters  &  Ushers $10000 

repairing  Schools  &  Wood  ----_..  lOOO 

Watchman  Coals  Candles  &c.  - 3000 

Assessors  Pay  &c. 2700 

Lamps  Oil  lights.  &c. 4000 

Town  Clerk  Salary 666 

Treasurers         D°.     -     -     - 666 

Messenger  to  Selectmen 300 

Constables  Services 150 

Clerks  of  Market 33 

Repairing  Clocks 50 

Prem.  to  Engine  mend^.  2  new  Engine    -     -     -  750 

Printing 250 

Stationery  -- 69 

ringing  Bells 300 

Paving  Streets 7000 


BosTOX  Towx  Recoeds,  1798.  47 

Incidental  Charges  visits.   Schools     -     -     -     -         1000 
Overseers  Drafts        16000 


From   this   deduct   what   may    be        ) 
rec"^.  from  the  State  for  the  States  Poor  |    -     -     -     -     -        4600 


$44000 


[85.]  Your  Committee  are  of  Opinion  that  a  Tax  of  $50000 
ought  to  be  laid  to  defray  the  expences  of  the  Current  Year  They 
annex  Gen^  Account  of  the  Treasurer  and  a  tryal  Ballance  of 
his  Books  —  Your  Committee  recommend  that  the  Town  desire 
the  Selectmen  to  procure  a  Book  and  order  the  Town  Clerk  to 
keep  Accounts  agreeable  to  the  Appropriations  as  above  and  in 
their  Drafts  on  the  Treasurer  it  will  be  proper  to  designate  the 
Appropriation ;  they  also  Recommend  that  the  Treasurer  be 
ordered  to  Open  as  many  Accounts  in  his  Books  as  will  conform 
to  said  Appropriations  &  charge  each  agreeable  to  the  Selectmen's 
Drafts  —  so  that  in  future  the  Town  may  know  which  &  how 
much  they  fall  short  of  the  Sums  granted. 

Your  Committee  see  no  prospect  of  the  old  Notes  being  paid  off 
owing  to  the  backwardness  of  paying  taxes,  there  is  now  due 
$38226 — of  the  Forty  Thousand  Assessed  for  1797.  which  will 
only  come  in  to  pay  the  Selectmen  &  Overseers  Drafts  for  1798 
therefore  the  Town  is  one  Year  in  Arrears  and  unless  the 
Inhabitants  can  be  induced  (by  a  Premium  or  otherways)  to 
make  prompt  payment  of  their  next  Tax  the  Notes  must  remain 
unpaid  they  Amount  to  $11506  exclusive  of  Interest,  All  of 
which  is  respectfully  submitted 

Herman  Brimmer 
Joseph  Russell  Jun"^ 
Samuel  Brown 

[86.]  The  aforegoing  Account  having  been  considered  —  the 
Question  was  put  Whether  the  Report  be  accepted  —  Passed  in 
the  Affirmative. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Fifty  Thousand  Dollars,  be  raised  by  a 
Tax  to  be  Assessed  on  the  Polls  &  Estates  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
the  Town  to  defray  the  Expences  of  the  Current  Year. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Six  hundred  sixty  six  Dollars  be  allowed 
and  paid  unto  Samuel  Clap  for  his  services  as  Town  Treasurer 
the  present  Year  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it  shall 
become  due  &  to  commence  the  1®'  March  last. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Six  hundred  sixty  six  Dollars  be  allowed 
and  paid  unto  William  Cooper  for  his  services  as  Town  Clerk  the 


48  City  Document  No.  115. 

present  Year  the  same  to  be  paid  him  Quarterly  as  it  shall  become 
due  &  to  commence  from  the  1®'  March  last. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Four  hundred  thirty  three  Dollars  be 
allowed  to  each  of  the  Assessors  for  their  respective  services  the 
present  Year  the  same  to  be  paid  them  quarterly  as  it  shall  become 
due  &  to  commence  the  1^*  March  last. 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  One  hundred  Dollars  be  allowed  to  each 
of  the  Assessors  the  present  Year  on  Account  of  the  rise  of 
Provisions. 

[87.]  The  Overseers  of  the  Poor  who  were  appointed  by  the 
Town  at  their  Meeting  on  the  12  ins*  to  confer  with  the  Committee 
for  building  an  Alms  House  &  have  attended  to  that  service  and 
ask  leave  to  Report  the  following  Statement. 

They  find  the  Sales  of  Eleven  Lots  of  Land  which  were  sold  by 
the  Town  for  the  above  mentioned  purpose  to  amount  to  Fifty 
Eight  Thousand  Eight  hundred  Dollars  —  The  Interest  on  public 
Stock  purchased  and  Rent  received  by  the  Committee  two  thousand 
five  hundred  &  fifty  one  Dollars  &  twenty  eight  cents  deducting 
from  these  Sums  twenty  three  thousand  eight  hundred  &  fifty 
Dollars  which  are  not  payable  agreeably  to  the  terms  of  sale  untill 
possession  is  given  to  the  Purchasers,  there  remains  Thirty  seven 
thousand  five  hundred  &  one  Dollars  &  twenty  eight  Cents  to  the 
Credit  of  the  Town  —  Of  this  Sum  the  Committee  have  appro- 
priated as  follows.  —  for  the  Purchase  of  Land  of  Messrs.  Bourn. 
Woodward  &  Phillips  on  which  to  erect  the  buildings ;  eleven 
thousand  one  hundred  &  ninety  nine  Dollars  and  ninety  nine  Cents. 
—  for  Lumber  and  the  expeuces  thereon  seven  thousand  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty  seven  Dollars  and  twenty  four  Cents  ;  for  the  pur- 
chase of  twenty  thousand  Dollars  in  tlie  5|-  P  Cent  funds  sixteen 
thousand  Dollars  five  Cents,  the  balance,  which  is  three  thousand 
&  seventy  four  dollars,  &  five  cents,  now  rests  in  the  hands  of  the 
Town  Treasurer  subject  [88]  to  the  order  of  the  Town — -The 
Overseers  wou'd  observe  the  numbers  now  in  the  Alms  House 
exceed  any  former  Years  and  that  the  buildings  are  in  a  most 
ruinous  state  and  from  the  imperfections  of  the  present  accom- 
odations it  has  not  been  in  their  power  to  enforce  agreeably  to 
their  wishes  that  Order  and  regularity  so  necessary  in  such  insti- 
tutions ;  under  all  these  disadvantages  they  are  however  happy  to 
say,  that  by  the  strictest  Attention  to  Diet  &  Cleanliness,  they 
have  been  enabled  to  preserve  among  the  Inhabitants  of  the  House 
for  several  Years  past  as  great  a  degree  of  Health  as  has  been 
enjoyed  in  proportion  to  numbers  in  any  part  of  the  Town.  To 
complete  the  buildings  necessary  for  the  accomodation  of  even 
the  present  numbers  (without  calculating  for  the  probable  in- 
crease) on  a  scale  that  will  be  advantageous  &  honorable  to  the 
Town,  it  must  be  apparent  to  every  one  who  will  take  the  trouble 


Boston  Town  Records,  1798.  49 

to  calculate,  will  require  with  all  the  economy  that  can  be  exer- 
cised, a  considerable  additions  of  Funds  beyond  what  are  now  at 
the  command  of  the  Committee,  and  the  Overseers  cannot  refrain 
from  observing  that  in  their  opinion  the  Committee  have  consulted 
the  true  Interest  of  the  Town  in  suspending  the  execution  of  their 
Plans  while  labour  &  Materials  continued  so  extravagantly  high 
as  even  at  the  present  time  a  very  important  saving  has  been 
[89]  realized  thereby.  Altho  the  Overseers  have  been  for  sev- 
eral Years  exceedingly  anxious,  that  a  more  commodious  House 
should  be  provided,  and  have  with  pleasure  anticipated  that  the 
accommodations  contemplated  by  the  Town  for  our  indigent  and 
enfeebled  citizens  wou'd  probably  be  in  great  forwardness  in  the 
course  of  the  ensuing  season  Yet  at  the  same  time  they  consider 
it  wou'd  be  highly  injurious  to  the  Interest  of  the  Town  to  com- 
mence the  work  untill  there  is  a  certainty  of  being  able  without 
delay  to  progress  so  far  as  to  render  it  habitable,  and  as  the  funds 
now  provided  are  insufficient  for  that  purpose  they  therefore  sub- 
mit to  the  superior  wisdom  &  consideration  of  the  Town  to  deter- 
mine whether  it  is  most  expedient  to  endeavor  to  struggle  another 
Year  with  the  difficulties  they  now  experience  or  to  make  a  further 
appropriation  of  Monies  &  enjoyn  the  Committee  to  carry  their 
Plans  into  effect  without  loss  of  time.  — The  Overseers  wou'd  only 
add  that  the  numbers  now  in  the  Alms  House  only  are  352.  and 
have  been  regularly  increasing  it  is  therefore  their  Opinion  that 
the  new  House  ought  to  be  calculated  to  contain  500  at  least. 

P.  Order 

Edward  Proctor  Chmr. 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  &  considered,  was  ap- 
proved of  and  accepted  by  the  Town. 

[90.]  Voted,  that  all  matters  unfinished  be  referred  to  the 
next  General  Town  Meeting  that  shall  be  called. 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the  Hon''^*'. 
Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  the  Moderator  for  his  good  services  in  the 
dispatch  given  the  business  of  this  Meeting. 

Then  the  meeting;  was  dissolved. — 


[91.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  quahfied  &  legally  warned  in  Pubhc 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  4*^. 
Day  of  July  A  :D  1798. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -     -     read. 

William  Cooper  was  chosen  Moderator. 


50  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  last  Year  to  make  choice  of  a 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  Indepen- 
dence. 

Reported  — 

That  they  had  made  choice  of  Josiah  Quincy  Esq. 
who  has  accepted. 

On  Motion  Adjourned  to  the  Old  South  Church — when  agree- 
able to  the  information  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Selectmen. 

AN    ORATION 

to  commemorate  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  was  de- 
livered by  Josiah  Quincy  Esq.  at  Old  South  Church. 

On  motion  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  [93]  be  and  hereby  are 
appointed  a  Committee  to  wait  on  Josiah  Quincy  Esq.  &  in  the 
name  of  the  Town  to  Thank  him  for  the  elegant  &  spirited  Oration 
this  day  delivered  by  him  at  the  request  of  y®.  Town  upon  the  An- 
niversary of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America, 
in  which  according  to  the  Institution  of  the  Town,  he  considered 
the  feelings,  manners  &  principles  which  led  to  that  great  National 
event  —  and  to  request  of  him  a  Copy  thereof  for  the  Press. — 

On  Motion  Voted  that  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  be  &  hereby 
are  appointed  a  Committee  to  apply  to  some  one  able  &  learned 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  4  July  AD.  1799.  that 
Day  being  the  Anniversary  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States  of  America ;  wherein  the  Orator  is  to  consider  the  feelings 
manners  and  principles  which  led  to  this  great  National  event  as 
well  as  the  important  &  happy  effects  whether  general  or  Domes- 
tic which  have  already  or  will  for  ever  flow,  from  that  auspicious 
Epoch. 

Then  the  Meetins;  was  dissolved. 


[93.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  &  legally  Warned  in  public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  5  Day 
of  November  Anno  Domini  1798.     10  OClock  A  :M  — 

Prayer  made  by  the  Rev*^.  Dr.  Walter. 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting     -     -     read. 

Paragraph  of  a  Resolve  of  the  General  Court  for  the  choice  of 
one  Representative  for  the  first  Middle  District     -     -     read. 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  the  Poll  would  be 
closed  at  ^  past  1 .  OClock  the  Bells  to  begin  tolling  at  1 .  O  Clock. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1798.  51 

Persons  Voted,  for  as  a  Representative  of  the  1®*.  Middle 
District  of  this  Commonwealth  in  the  next  Congress  of  the 
United  States Viz. 

Honi^  Harrison  Gray  Otis 1726 

Honi«.  William  Heath  Esq. 936 

William  Eustis  Esq. 3 

A  declaration  was  made  by  the  Selectmen  of  the  Persons  Voted 
for  as  Representatives  of  the  1^*^  Middle  District.  — 

[94.]  Attested  Copies  of  the  Persons  Voted  for  as  above 
were  sealed  up  in  Town  Meeting  &  delivered  to  the  Sheriff  of  this 
Commonwealth  by  the  Town  Clerk   superscribed  as  follows  Viz. 

For  John  Avery  Esq. 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

The  Town  made  choice  of 

The  Hon^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 
as  Moderator  of  the  Meeting  to  transact  the  matters  mentioned  in 
the  Warrant. 

Adjourned  to  to  morrow  Morning  10.  OClock. 

Tuesday  November  6.  10.  OClock  AM.  Met  according  to 
Adjournment.  — 

The  Article  relative  to  the  Old  State  House  was  read,  &  com- 
mitted for  consideration  to.  — 

William  Eustis  Esq. 
Samuel  Brown 
Judge  Minot 
William  Smith 
Thomas  Edwards  Esq. 
to  Report  at  the  Adjournment. 

[95.]  The  Petition  of  William  Powell  Esqr.  &  others  rela- 
tive to  cleansing  &  filling  up  Docks  &  was  read  &  committed  for 
consideration  to. — 

William  Powell  Esq. 

Stephen  Gorham 

William  Thompson 

Samuel  Parkman 

John  Codman 

John  Andrews 

Josiah  Quincy 

John  Coffin  Jones 

Mr.  James  Perkins 

Aaron   Dexter 

William  Eustis  Esq. 
to  Report  thereon  at  the  Adjournment. 


52  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  Petition  of  Amasa  Davis  Esq.  Quarter  Master  General 
relative  to  Ground  for  erecting  a  State  Store — read,  &  commit- 
ted for  consideration  to 

Hon^'^.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 
Thomas  Edwards  Esq. 
John  Codman  Esq. 
to  Report  thereon  at  the  Adjournment  of  this  Meeting. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  relative  to  Trunks  was  read  — 
whereupon  — 

Voted  that  William  Smith 
[96.]  Nathan  Bond 

Russell  Sturgis  Esqrs. 
be  a  Committee  to  consider  this  matter  &  Report  thereon  at  the 
Adjournment. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz*. — Whether  the  Town  will 
dispense  with  the  lighting  the  Lamps  the  ensuing  Season  —  read  — 
whereupon 

Voted,  that  John  Codman  Esq. 

Ebenezer  Hancock  Esq. 
William  Sherburn  Esq 
be  a  Committee  to  consider  this  Article  &  Report  thereon  at  the 
Adjournment. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  relative  to  applying  to  the  General 
Court  for  Restrictions  on  Aqueduct  Corporation  "  was  read,  & 
committed  for  consideration  to.  — 

William  Tudor 
Amasa  Davis 
Russell  Sturgis 
Joseph  May  -  -  -  Esquires 
Mr.  Henderson  Inches 
to  Report  thereon  at  the  Adjournment. 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  publish  the  Names  of  the  several 
Committees  in  such  papers  as  they  Judge  proper  for  the  infor- 
mation of  y®.  Inhabitants. 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday  the  21.  Novemr.  Ins*.  10  OClock 
A.M.— 

[97.]  November  21.  10  OClock  A.M.  Met  according  to 
Adjournment. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  relative  to  Trucks  read  &  after 
consideration  &  some  amendments  —  the  same  was  accepted  by 
the  Town  &  is  as  follows  Viz*. 

The    Committee    appointed   by 
the  Town  to  take  into  consideration  the  Petition  of  a  number  of 


Boston  Town  Records,  1798.  53 

the  Owners  of  Trucks  praying  an  alteration  in  the  By  Laws  of 
the  Town  regulating  Trucks  so  far  as  it  respects  the  length  of 
them  —  having  heard  the  Memorialists  on  the  subject  &  examined 
the  clause  of  the  Law  of  which  they  complain  are  of  opinion  it  is 
not  expedient  to  repeal  any  part  of  said  Law,  Your  Committee 
are  of  opinion  that  the  Clause  in  said  Law  which  directs  that  the 
side  of  Trucks  shall  not  exceed  16  feet  in  length  does  not  include 
the  Shafts  but  that  7  feet  being  allowed  for  the  Shafts  will  be 
sufficient  making  the  whole  length  of  the  Trucks  including  the 
Shafts  24  feet.— 

William  Smith  P.  Order. 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Committee  on  the  subject  of  light- 
ing the  Lamps  do  advertize  for  proposals  for  furnishing  the  Oil 
&  wicks  and  lighting  the  Lamps  of  the  Town  during  the 
Winter. — 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  relative  to  [98]  Nuisances  &c 
read  &  referred  over  to  the  Adjournment  &  that  in  the  mean  time 
the  same  be  printed  and  disposed  by  the  Selectmen  amongst  the 
Inhabitants. 

The  Committee  on  Amasa  Davis  Esq.  Quarter  Master  General 
Petition  Report. — 

That  it  is  the  Opinion  of  the  Committee  that  the  Selectmen  be 
authorized  &  impowered  to  accommodate  Amasa  Davis  Esq. 
Quarter  Master  General  with  a  piece  of  Land  sufficient  whereon 
to  erect  suitable  Buildings  for  the  purpose  of  covering  the  Field 
Artillery  &  houseing  the  most  valuable  military  Stores  &  as 
prayed  for  by  him^  near  the  Southerly  part  of  the  Common  ;  from 
the  Land  owned  by  the  Town  fronting  on  Pleasant  Street  & 
butting  Easterly  on  Torrys  Pasture  so  called.  &  that  they  cause  the 
said  Quarter  M.  General  to  fence  in  the  whole  of  said  Land  — 
And  whereas  one  Company  of  Artillery  is  already  raised,  & 
another  now  raising  to  compose  the  Legion  belonging  to  the  Town 
of  Boston  &  the  Ground  on  which  the  present  Gun  House  now 
stands  is  otherways  disposed  of  by  the  Town  the  Selectmen  are 
requested  to  reserve  so  much  'of  said  Land  as  will  be  sufficient  for 
the  Gun  house  &.  for  the  Artillery  Company  when  they  shall 
become  wanted  and  that  application  be  made  to  the  Governor  & 
Council  for  a  Warrant  on  the  State  Treasurey  for  the  Money 
allowed  by  Government  for  such  purposes  &  applied  accordingly 
The  Company  of  Artillery  now  raising  beeing  from  [99]  the 
North  part  of  the  Town  the  Selectmen  are  further  authorized  if 
they  shall  judge  it  to  be  more  for  the  common  interest  to  provide 
a  piece  of  Land  for  the  said  Company  whereon  to  erect  a  Gun 
house  at  the  North  part  of  the  Town,  notwithstanding. 

The  above  Report  having  been  read  and  considered  was  ac- 
cepted by  the  Town. 


54  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  certain  resolves  of  the 
Legislature  of  this  Commonwealth  relative  to  the  disposition  & 
sale  of  the  old  State  House  so  called,  have  attended  to  the  subject 
and  take  leave  to  report  as  follows. 

First. — The  Committee  are  satisfied  that  the  fee  of  the  Land  on 
which  the  House  stands  is  in  the  Town  of  Boston  and  that  they 
have  hkewise  erected  &  repaired  from  time  to  time  nearly  one  half 
of  the  House  :  from  whence  it  results  that  the  Town  ought  not  to 
consent  to  the  proposal  made  by  the  Legislature  to  appoint  agents 
to  sell  the  said  House  and  Land  thereto  belonging  &  to  place  one 
half  of  the  proceeds  in  the  Treasury  of  the  Commonwealth. 
Secondly  The  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  selling  the  Premises 
to  any  individual  Person  or  company  will  be  attended  with  con- 
sequences very  injurious  to  the  Town,  — The  purposes  for  which 
it  might  &  [100]  probably  would  be  occupied  would  tend 
greatly  to  incumber  the  most  frequented  Street  in  the  Town  which 
is  in  its  present  state  not  of  sufficient  width  for  public  accommo- 
dation,—  the  dangers  from  fire  would  be  very  much  increased 
whether  the  house  is  appropriated  for  Shops,  Stores,  Counting 
Houses  or  in  short  from  any  use  to  which  the  interest  of  individ- 
uals might  appropriate  it.  Beside  the  increase  of  real  obstruc- 
tions to  the  Streets  on  both  sides  of  the  House. — The  Committee 
are  apprehensive  that  the  Health  of  the  inhabitants  may  be  ex- 
posed by  the  nuisances  which  a  complete  occupation  of  the  House 
would  necessarily  imply. 

The  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  Town  ought  to  be  the 
owners  of  the  House  &  Land  in  order  that  it  may  be  appropriated 
to  no  uses  of  Which  they  shall  disapprove. 

As  the  Hon^^  Legislature  appear  from  their  resolves  to  be  im- 
pressed with  an  idea  that  one  half  of  the  premises  is  the  property 
of  the  Commonwealth  and  at  the  same  time  have  consented  to 
refer  the  claim  together  with  that  of  the  Town  &  of  the  Counties 
of  Suffolk  and  Norfolk  to  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Judicial 
Court  for  a  final  decision. 

The  Committee  conceive  that  the  Town  should  agree  to  the 
reference  proposed  so  far  as  that  the  [101]  Judges  shall  finally 
determine  what  part  of  the  Premises  is  the  property  of  the  Town. 

And  with  respect  to  the  other  proposal  of  selling  whether  by 
public  or  private  Sale  that  the  Town  should  not  agree  to  the  same 
but  that  the  Representatives  of  the  Town  be  instructed  to  repre- 
sent to  the  Legislature  the  inconveniences  which  would  result 
from  a  sale  to  individuals  together  with  the  desire  of  the  Town 
that  they  will  purchase  from  the  State  such  [part  of]  their  pro-, 
portion  of  the  same  as  the  Judges  shall  award,  at  an  appraise- 
ment to  be  made  by  three  impartial  Men  to  be  chosen,  one  by  the 


Boston  Town  Records,  1798.  55 

Legislature,  one  by  the  Representatives  of  the  Town,  the  third  by 
the  two  first  or  by  lot  between  them  if  they  cannot  agree. 

William  Eustis  P.  Order. 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  and  considered  was 
accepted  by  the  Town. 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday  December  5"\  10.  OClock  A  :M. 

Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  and  Report  on  the  Arti- 
cle of  the  Warrant  relative  to  applying  to  the  General  Court  for 
Restriction  on  the  Aqueduct  Corporation. 

Report 

[103.]  That  by  the  Act  passed  the  27.  Feb^.  1795.  The 
Associates  in  the  above  Corporation  are  invested  with  full  Powers 
to  open  the  Ground  in  any  part  of  the  Streets  &  high  ways  in  the 
Towns  of  Roxbury  and  Boston  &  at  any  time  for  the  purpose  of 
sinking  or  repairing  such  Aqueduct,  without  any  control  Assent 
or  Restriction  from  the  Selectmen  or  Surveyors  of  the  High  ways 
of  either  of  those  Towns.  — 

These  unqualified  powers  have  been  productive  of  some  Com- 
plaint already  and  may  lead  to  consequential  injury  by  subjecting 
the  Town  to  litigations  with  the  Aqueduct  Proprietors  or  saddling 
the  Inhabitants  with  the  expence  of  extra  repairs  of  their  Streets. 

Your  Committee  therefore  propose  the  Town  instruct  their 
Representatives  in  the  General  Court  to  obtain  an  additional  one 
in  amendment  of  the  same  to  the  following  effect  Viz. 

V^.  That  no  pavement  shall  be  taken  up  previous  to  the  first 
Day  of  April  nor  after  the  first  Day  of  October  in  any  year. 

2*^.  That  the  Selectmen  or  the  Persons  whom  they  shall  appoint 
shall  determine  in  what  part  of  any  Street  the  pavement  shall  be 
removed  for  the  purpose  of  sinking  the  pipes  of  the  Aqueduct 
and  to  what  extent  until  the  repair  is  completed. 

3*^.  That  the  Selectmen  or  Surveyors  of  Highways  [103]  be 
impowered  to  direct  the  repavement  so  as  to  have  the  same  sub- 
stantially &  effectually  done. 

These  Restrictions  appear  reasonable  because  when  the  Town 
on  the  7*'\  Feb^.  1795  assented  to  the  proprietors  being  incorpo- 
rated it  was  with  this  express  proviso.  "That  the  Corporation 
should  be  holden  to  put  the  Streets  which  should  be  opened  in  as 
good  repair  as  they  were  previous  thereto,  and  that  such  other 


56  City  Document  No.  115. 

guards  S  JRestrictions  should  be  inserted  in  the  Act  as  should 
effectually  secure  the  Town  from  injury.  — 

W".  Tudor  P.  Order. 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  and  considered  was 
accepted  by  the  Town. 

The  Committee  relative  to  Lamps  Report  That  it  will  not  be 
expedient  to  dispense  with  the  lighting  the  Lamps  &  in  obedience 
to  a  subsequent  Order  of  the  Town  they  have  advertized  for  pro- 
posals but  no  person  has  appeared  to  undertake  it. 

John  Codman  P.  Order. 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  was  accepted  —  also 
Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  requested  to  light  the  Lamps  in  the 
best  manner  they  are  able. 

Voted,  that  the  Representatives  of  the  Town  be  requested  to 
use  their  endeavor  to  procure  an  Act  or  Law  for  empowering  the 
Governor  with  the  [104]  advice  of  the  Council  to  issue  an  Order 
for  the  removal  of  any  Person  from  one  prison  to  another  or  from 
a  Goal  to  a  place  of  safe  custody  where  such  Person  shall  be  con- 
fined by  order  of  Law  &  be  labouring  under  a  contagious  discease 
in  such  a  manner  as  that  his  continuance  in  Goal  may  justly  be 
considered  as  dangerous  to  others. 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  Petition  of  William 
Powell  Esq.  &  others  ' '  for  cleansing  some  of  the  Docks  &  filling 
up  others  &  to  remove  as  far  as  possible  all  Nuisances  that  may 
arise  particularly  from  damaged  Goods,  Provisions  &  Hides  being 
stored  in  Town  &  to  raise  Money  to  defray  the  expeuce  thereof  " 
—  have  attended  their  Duty  in  that  respect  and  beg  leave  to 
Report. 

That  the  Selectmen  be  requested  to  take  measures  for  cleansing 
the  Town  Dock,  Ivers  Dock,  Olivers  Dock  &  a  Dock  between  the 
Long  Wharf  &  Spears  Wharf  in  a  manner  as  economical  as 
possible,  and  that  the  Selectmen  be  requested  to  have  the  Dock 
called  Olivers  Dock  filled  up  as  soon  as  may  be  in  such  Manner 
as  shall  be  for  the  safety  and  interest  of  the  Town  for  the  dis- 
tance of  about  150  feet  from  the  head. 

That  the  Town  direct  its  Representatives  to  make  application 
to  the  General  Court,  at  its  [105]  next  Sessions  for  an  act  to 
authorize  the  Inhabitants  and  Freeholders  of  the  respective  Wards 
in  the  Town  qualified  to  Vote  for  Town  Officers  to  meet  annu- 
ally in  the  Month  of  March  or  April  at  such  time  and  in  such 
places  as  may  be  duly  appointed  within  their  respective  Wards, 
to  choose  one  able  &  discreet  Person  an  Inhabitant  of  the  Ward 
for  which  he  shall  be  elected  to  be  a  Member  of  a   Board  of 


Boston  Town  Recoeds,  1798.  57 

Health  which  shall  consist  of  a  member  from  each  Ward  to  be 
chosen  by  Ballot,  &  not  otherwise  :  Which  Board  when  so  chosen 
shall  choose  a  President  &  Secretary,  whose  duty  it  shall  be 
annually  in  the  Month  of  March  or  April  to  publish  a  notification 
in  two  at  least  of  the  News  Papers  printed  in  the  Town  of  Boston, 
mentioning  time  and  place  within  each  Ward  respectively  seven 
days  at  least  before  the  time  appointed  for  such  Meeting  for  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  respective  Wards  to  Assemble  for  the  purpose 
aforesaid.  And  the  Members  of  the  Board  of  Health  for  the  Year 
preceeding  shall  preside  each  in  his  Ward  respectively  at  said 
Meeting  untill  a  Clerk  shall  be  chosen  by  the  Ward  &  no  longer, 
which  choice  shall  be  by  Ballot.  The  Clerk  shall  then  call  for 
the  Votes  receive,  &  count,  the  same  in  open  Meeting  &  certify  the 
number  to  the  President  of  the  existing  Board  of  health  within  24 
Hours  of  said  Meeting  under  penalty  of  Ten  dollars  to  be  recovered 
by  action  of  debt  to  be  brought  by  said  President  for  the  use  of 
the  Town  [106]  in  any  Court  of  competent  Jurisdiction.  And 
in  case  of  the  neglect  death  or  refusal  of  the  Member  of  the  Board 
of  Health  to  preside  at  said  Meeting  the  Ward  may  appoint  a 
Committee  to  receive  the  Votes  for  a  Clerk.  And  on  return  of 
the  Members  chosen  for  each  Ward  the  President  of  the  Board 
shall  notify  them  to  meet  at  a  certain  time  &  place  within  seven 
days  at  least  after  such  return.  At  which  time  the  Board  of 
Health  for  the  Year  ensuing  shall  be  formed.  — 

The  Duty  of  the  Board  of  Health  shall  be  to  examine  into 
all  Nuisances  &  other  causes  injurious  to  the  health  of  the  In- 
habitants whether  the  same  shall  be  caused  by  stagnant  Waters, 
drains,  common  sewers,  slaughter  Houses,  Tan  Yards,  Fish 
houses.  Docks.  Necessaries,  putrid  animal  or  vegetable  substances 
or  any  other  cause  of  whatever  kind,  which  may  be  injurious 
to  the  Health  of  the  Inhabitants  as  aforesaid,  with  power  to 
search  all  houses,  stores,  cellars,  ships  «fe  vessells  where  they 
may  have  reason  to  suspect  any  of  the  causes  aforesaid  to  exist. 
And  if  they  shall  meet  with  resistance  in  the  execution  of  the 
search,  or  the  refusal  to  remove  such  Nuisances,  upon  applica- 
tion to  any  Justice  of  the  Peace  within  the  Town,  he  shall 
grant  a  Warrant  directed  to  the  Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Suf- 
folk, his  Deputy  or  any  Constable  of  the  Town  of  Boston  com- 
manding him  in  presence  of  any  two  of  said  Board  of  health, 
to  cause  such  nuisance  to  be  removed  &  to  levy  the  expence  of 
said  removal  on  the  occupier  [107]  or  proprietor  of  the  House 
Store,  Cellar  or  Land  in  which  such  nuisance  existed  together 
with  a  fine  of  twenty  dollars  for  such  refusal  or  resistance : 
said  fine  to  be  paid  over  to  the  Town  Treasurer  for  the  use  of 
the  Town,  And  the  said  Board  shall  have  authority  to  appoint 
Scavengers  «fe  such  other  Officers  to  assist  them  in  the  execution 
of  their  Oflfice  as  they  shall  judge  necessary  for  payment  of  whom 
&  all  necessary  expences  which  may  arise  in  the  execution  of 
their,  the  said  Board  shall  be  authorized  to  draw  on  the  Town 


58  City  Document  No.  115. 

Treasurer,  &  the  Accompts  of  said  Board  shall  be  examined  by 
a  Committee  of  the  Town  Annually  chosen  for  that  purpose  who 
shall  report  the  state  of  them  to  the  Town  accordingly. 

That  application  be  made  to  the  General  Court  for  a  Law  to 
compel  a  seasonable  repacking  of  salted  meats  &  pickled  Fish. 
To  prevent  the  bringing  into  town  of  tainted  meats  and  fish. 
&  for  empowering  the  Board  of  Health  to  have  the  Law  carried 
into  full  execution.  Also  for  preventing  injuries  ariving  from 
Hides  &  other  putrid  substances  which  may  be  brought  in  Town. 

That  any  Person  that  shall  throw  into  any  of  the  Docks  in  the 
Town  any  putrid  Meat  Fish  or  any  other  putrid  or  offensive 
substance,  shall  forfeit  &  pay  for  each  offence,  a  sum  not  less 
than  one  Dollar  nor  more  than  ten  dollars  at  the  discretion  of  the 
[108]  Court  which  may  have  cognisance  of  such  offence  All 
forfitures  &  penalties  arising  from  this  Act  to  accrue  to  the  use  of 
the  Town  &  to  be  prosecuted  in  such  Court  or  Courts  &  in  such 
form,  as  by  the  General  Court  may  be  directed  &  authorized. 

And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  health  to  oversee  & 
enforce  the  due  execution  of  the  foregoing  Laws  &  prosecute  all 
Offenders,  &  for  all  penalties  &  forfeitures  which  may  accrue 
under  the  same. 

They  further  recommend  that  all  Masters  of  Vessells  arriving 
shall  be  prohibited  under  a  sufficient  penalty  for  each  offence  from 
depositing  on  the  Wharfes  the  filth  or  sweepings  of  their  Vessells 
holds  or  throwing  the  same  into  any  of  the  Docks  of  the  Town.  — 

William  Powell  P.  Order 

The  foregoing  Report  having  been  considered  &  amended  in 
Meeting  the  Question  was  put  —  Viz.  —  Whether  the  same  be 
accepted  —  Passed  in  the  affirmative.  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


1799. 

[109.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabit- 
ants of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the 
11*'\  Day  of  March  Anno  Domini  1799.     9.  OClock.  Forenoon. 

Prayer  was  made  by  Rev'*.  Dr.  West. 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting     -     -     read. 

Sundry  Laws  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting  were  accordingly 
read. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1799.  69 

Hon*^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  Hand 
Vote. 

The  Inhabitants  were  dn-ected  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  a  Town  Clerk  and  the  same  having  been  brought  in  & 
counted  it  appeared  that 

William  Cooper 
was   chosen  Town  Clerk   for  the  Year  ensuing   &   an   Oath  of 
Office  was  administered  by  Mr.  Justice  Sherburn. 

[110.]  The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring 
in  their  Votes  for  nine  Selectmen  &  upon  sorting  them  it 
appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen  viz. 

Charles  Bulfinch 
David  Tilden 
Russell  Sturgis 
Joseph  Howard 
Ebenezer  Hancock  Esq. 
William  Porter 
William  Sherburne  Esq. 
Joseph  May  Esq. 
Samuel  Cobb 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  five  Assessors  and  counted,  it 
appeared  that  only  four  were  chosen     -     -     -     -     Viz. 

John  E.  Sigorney 
Caleb  Blanchard 
Ebenezer  Sever  Esq. 
John  Hurd  Esq. 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  &  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  12  Overseers  of  the  Poor  &  upon  sorting  them  it 
appeared  that 

Edward  Procter  Esq. 
[111.]  John  Sweetser  Esq. 

Johathan  L.  Austin  Esq. 

Mr.  Edward  Edes 

Henry  Hill  Esq. 

William  Smith  Esq. 

William  Phillips  Esq. 

Stephen  Gorham  Esq. 

Mr.  Oliver  Brewster 

Arnold  Wells  Jun'".  Esq. 

Dr.  Bedford  Webster 

Mr.  Thomas  Perkins 
were  chosen  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Adjourned  to  3.  0.  Clock  P  :M.  — 


60  City  Document  No.  115. 

3.0.  Clock  P.M.  Met  according  to  Adjournment 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  &  hereby 
are  given  unto  Thomas  Edwards  Esq.  William  Little  Esq.  & 
Mr.  Jonathan  Harris  &  Mr.  John  Tileston  for  their  good  &  faith- 
ful services  as  Selectmen  a  number  of  Years  past. 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  24.  Fire  Wards, 
when  it  appeared  that.  — 

John  Winthrop  Esq. 
Thomas  Mellvile 
[113.]  Jabez  Hatch 

Joseph  Russell 
Samuel  Parkman  Esq. 
Mr.  Edward  Edes 
Amasa  Davis  Esq. 
Russell  Sturgis 
Henry  Jackson 
William  Scollay 
.Joseph  May  Esq. 
Cap*.  Robei't  Gardner 
John  May  Esq. 
Mr.  William  Brown 
John  Winslow  Esq. 
Nathaniel  Fellows 
Samuel  Bradford  Esq. 
Mr.  Joseph  Head 
Thomas  H.  Perkins  Esq. 
Joseph  Howard 
Benjamin  Joy 
Stephen  Codman 
Andrew  Cunningham  Esq. 
Mr.  John  Bray 
were  chosen  Fire  Wards  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  motion  in  the  Forenoon  of  a  Vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Austin 
with  the  other  Selectmen  did  not  obtain,  a  motion  being  made 
this  afternoon  for  a  [113]  reconsideration  of  the  foraier  vote 
and  that  he  have  the  thanks  of  the  Town  for  his  good  &  faithful 
services  as  a  Selectman  and  the  question  being  accordingly  put 
Passed  in  the  affirmative. 

Voted  that  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  twelve  Persons  shall 
now  be  chosen  as  a  school  Committee  and  the  votes  being 
brought  in  &  assorted  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen 
were  chosen  viz. 

Hon^'"'.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 

Rev'*.  Samuel  West  D.D. 

Dr.  Thomas  Welsh 

Rev"^.  Samuel  Stillman 


Boston  Town  Recoeds,  1799.  61 

Dr.  Aaron  Dexter 
Mr.  William  Smith 
Dr.  William  Spooner 
Mr.  Arnold  Welles  Jun*". 
Edward  Gray  Esq. 
David  Green  Esq. 
Rev'i.  J  T  Kirk  land 
Rufus  G  Amory  Esq. 

Voted  that  the  above  named  Gentlemen  who  conjunctly  with 
the  Selectmen  are  termed  the  School  Committee  be  and  hereby 
are  directed  to  carry  the  new  system  of  Education  which  has 
been  adopted  by  the  Town  into  operation,  and  said  Committee  are 
also  authorized  and  empowered  conjunctly  to  [114]  manage  and 
regulate  the  Officers  and  government  of  the  School  and  in  future 
to  exercise  all  the  Powers  relating  to  the  Schools  and  Schoolmas- 
ters which  the  Selectmen  or  such  committees  are  authorized  by  the 
Laws  of  this  Commonwealth  or  the  Vote  of  the  Town  to  exercise 
any  of  the  former  votes  of  the  Town  notwithstanding. 

Mr.  Samuel  Clap 
was  chosen  Town  Treasurer  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Mr.  Benjamin  Hammatt  Jun"^. 
was  chosen  an  Assessor  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Votes  for  a  Treasurer  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  brought  in  and 
counted  by  the  moderator  and  Town  Clerk  when  it  appeared  that 
the  whole  number  was  265 — of  which  248  were  for  Ebenezer 
Sever  Esq.  5  for  Charles  Bulfinch  Esq.  4  for  Mr.  Samuel  Clap, 
4  for  Mr.  Benjamin  Hammatt  Jun.  3  for  Mr.  Thomas  Hichbourn 
1  for  Giles  Harris  Esq.  all  discreet,  suitable  Persons,  being  Free- 
holders and  Residents  in  said  County. 

Voted  that  the  assessors  be  and  hereby  are  directed  to  sit  for 
such  statements  of  Taxes  as  they  shall  judge  reasonable  two  days 
in  such  weeks  after  the  delivery  of  the  Tax  books  to  the  Collectors 
for  the  space  of  six  weeks  and  no  longer,  saving  they  be  allowed 
to  sit  the  last  Week  in  February  (Lords  days  excepted)  for  the 
[115]  abatement  of  the  Taxes  of  such  persons  as  had  not  the 
opportunity  of  applying  in  the  above  limited  time  by  reason  of 
their  being  out  of  this  Commonwealth  or  any  other  unavoidable 
hindrance  and  that  the  assessors  determine  on  the  said  two  days 
which  is  to  be  noted  on  the  tax  bill  to  be  delivered  the  In- 
habitants. 

Voted  That  five  per  cent  be  and  hereby  are  allowed  to  the 
Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  year  ensuing  for  all  such  sums  of 
money  and  public  securities  as  they  shall  collect  and  pay  in  to  the 
several  Treasurers  of  the  sums  committed  to  them  to  collect  also 


62  City  Document  No.  115. 

that  such  Collectors  shall  give  bond  with  sufficient  Sureties  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their 
duty  in  said  office  and  complying  with  this  vote  and  that  they  will 
not  receive  any  premium  or  gratuity  for  discounting  any  orders 
notes  or  receipts  from  the  Treasurer  of  this  State,  or  the 
Treasurer  of  this  Town. 

The  votes  being  brought  in  for  four  Collectors  of  Taxes  it  ap- 
peared that 

Messrs.  Benjamin  Henderson 
Thomas  Bailey 
James  Thompson 
Benjamin  Jepson 
were  chosen  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Adjourned  till  Tomorrow  10  °Clock  Forenoon 

[116.]     Tuesday  10  °Clock   Forenoon,  met  according  to  ad- 
journment. 

Messrs.  Thomas  Bradlee 
David  Hollis 
Matthew  Loring 
Thomas  Sullivan 
were  chosen  Sealers  of  Leather  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Benjamin  White 
Moses  Ayres 
Daniel  Ingersol 
William  Darricott 
were  chosen  Fence  viewers  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Edward  Jones 
George  Hamlin 
Abijah  Wheelock 
were  chosen  Hogreeves  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Edward  Jones 
George  Hamlin 
Abijah  Wheelock 
were  chosen  Haywards  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Jeffry  Richardson 
Isaac  P.  Davis 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Hemp  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Edward  Tuckerman  Esq. 
Mr.  Edward  Edes 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Wheat  for  the  year  ensuing. 

[117.]         Messrs.  Joshua  Weatherley 
John  Wells 
were  chosen  assay  masters  for  the  year  ensuing. 


Boston  Town  Recokds,  1799.  63 

The  Selectmen 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  the  high  ways  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Mr.  Abraham  Adams 
was  chosen  Informer  of  deer  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Voted,  That  Herman  Brimmer  Esq. 
Joseph  RussellEsq. 
Samuel  Brown  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  audit  the  accounts 
of  the  Town  Treasurer  and   also  the  accounts  of  the   Selectmen 
Overseers  of  the  Poor  and  Board  of  Health  and  said  Commit- 
tee are  also  directed  to  report  the  sum  necessary  to  be  raised  for 
the  services  of  the  present  year. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  appoint  such  able  per- 
sons for  measures  of  wood  &  bark  brought  into  Town  for  sale 
according  to  a  late  law  of  this  Commonwealth  and  that  they  follow 
the  directions  of  the  Law  therein. 

Messrs.  Roger  Bartlett 
Joseph  Doble 
Jonathan  Cushing 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  dry  fish  for  the  year  ensuing. 

[118.]  Messrs.  Joseph  Loring 

Thomas  Barber 

George  Singleton 

Edward  Burt 

Thomas  Foster 

John  Bray 

Henry  Parkitt 

Jonathan  Cushing 

James  Barry 

Hezekiah  Hutson 

Philip  Hichbourne 

Timothy  Pease 

Job  Wheelwright  Jun''. 

William  Fenno 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Boards  and  Staves  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Mr.  Edward  Rumley 
was  chosen  an  Inspector  of  stone  lime  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Shubael  Hewes 

Thomas  Stevenson 
Amos  Lewis 
Jonah  Holbrook 
Samuel  White 
Enoch  May 


64  City  Document  No.  115. 

Abraham  Tuckerman 
Noah  Butts 
John  French 
Samuel  Gridley 
Andrew  Townsend 
WiUiam  Low 
were  chosen  Constables  for  the  year  ensuing. 

[119.]     The   Committee   relative   to   filling   up    Olivers   Dock 
reported, 

That  agreeable  to  a  vote  of  the  Town  at  their  last  meeting 
they  have  attended  to  their  request  relating  to  filling  up  Olivers 
Dock  so  called  and  that  in  order  to  comply  with  the  wishes  of  the 
Town  in  this  respect  as  far  as  it  was  in  their  power  they  had 
entered  into  the  annexed  agreement  with  the  Proprietors  of 
Woodwards  Wharf e  so  called  —  that  the  Town  will  observe  how- 
ever that  it  is  made  subject  to  their  control  —  the  reasons  of  the 
agi'eement  appear  in  the  agreement  itself 

Thomas  Edwards 

P.   Order. 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  &  considered  it  was 

Voted  that  the  same  be  accepted  and  that  the  Selectmen  be 
requested  to  act  thereon  as  they  may  judge  proper. 

Votes  for  12  Surveyors  of  Boards  and  Shingles  brought  in 
when  it  appeared  that 

Messrs.  Joshua  Bentley 
Benjamin  White 
Benjamin  Page 
James  Blake 
John  Cogswell 
Edmund  Ranger 
William  Clouston 
William  Darricott 
Nathaniel  Tidmarsh 
William  Ellison 
Thomas  Blake 
John  Stutson  were  chosen. 

[130.]  The  Representation  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  as 
to  the  state  of  the  almshouse  and  workhouse  was  read  several 
times  whereupon 

Voted  that  William  Powell  Esq. 
General  Donaldson 
Herman  Brimmer 
William  Eustis  Esq. 
Colonel  Joseph  May 


Boston  Town  Records,  1799.  65 

be  a  committee  to  take  this  report  into  consideration  and  any 
paper  relative  thereto,  that  they  confer  with  the  overseer,  of  the 
poor  and  the  agents  for  building  the  new  almshouse  and  work- 
house, to  enquire  into  the  state  of  their  funds  and  to  devise  ways 
&  means  for  procuring  the  monies  yet  wanting  for  erecting  the 
necessary  buildings  and  that  they  report  thereon  at  the  adjourn- 
ment and  that  the  Inhabitants  be  informed  in  the  public  prints  of 
this  adjournment  and  the  special  occasion  thereof. 

On  motion  Voted  that  the  consideration  of  all  money  matters 
be  referred  over  to  May  meeting. 

Voted  that  this  meeting  be  adjourned  to  Wednesday  the  27 
March  inst.  10  "Clock  forenoon,  then  to  meet  in  this  place. —  and 
the  meeting  was  accordingly  adjourned. 

Wednesday  the  27  March  10  °Clock  forenoon  met  according  to 
adjournment. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Town  at  their  meeting  on  the 
eleventh  March  instant  to  take  in  to  consideration  the  representa- 
tion of  the  Overseers  of  [121]  the  Poor  to  confer  with  said 
overseers  and  with  the  Agents  of  the  Town  for  building  the  new 
almshouse  and  workhouse  to  enqire  into  the  state  of  the  funds 
and  to  devise  ways  and  means  for  procuring  the  monies  to  erect 
the  necessary  buildings  &c  —  have  to  the  best  of  their  abilities 
endeavour'd  to  comply  with  the  injunctions  of  the  Town  and  beg 
leave  to  report  as  follows 

That  the  condition  of  the  buildings  at  present  improved  as  an 
almshouse  and  as  a  Workhouse  is  such  that  in  the  opinion  of  the 
Committee  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  one  new  building  capable 
of  accommodating  all  the  persons  at  present  supported  by  the 
Town,  be  immediately  undertaken  and  completed  with  all  con- 
venient speed. 

That  the  expence  of  erecting  such  a  building  on  the  land  already 
procured  for  that  purpose,  including  a  sea  wall  and  other  arrange- 
ments of  the  ground  will  cost  the  Town  in  the  opinion  of  the 
agents  between  Forty  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  :  and  the  Com- 
mittee are  inform'd  that  it  will  require  eighteen  months  before 
the  new  building  can  be  inhabited.  That  the  Agents  have  in 
funded  stock  for  the  above  mentioned  purpose  to  the  value  (in 
round  numbers)  of  sixteen  thousand  Dollars  —  in  Lumber  seven 
thousand  dollars,  and  Cash  in  the  hands  of  the  Town-Treasurer 
four  thousand  dollars  making  in  the  whole  the  sum  of  Twenty  seven 
thousand  dollars,  leaving  a  deficiency  of  about  Twenty  thousand 
dollars  to  be  provided  for  by  the  Town 

That  there  is  now  due  to  the  Town  about  Twenty  three  thousand 
dollars  for  the  sales  of  the  Lands  on  which  [122]  the  almshouse 
and  workhouse  now  stands,  but  this  sum  is  not  to  be  paid  until 
the  town  shall  'deliver  possession  of  these  lands  and  buildings, 
which  can  not  be  done  until  the  intended  building  shall  be  ready 


66  City  Document  No.  115. 

to  receive  the  inhabitants  of  those  that  are  to  be  delivered  up  to 
the  purchasers  —  It  will  then  be  necessary  to  provide  for  a  defi- 
ciency of  about  Twenty  thousand  dollars  to  complete  the  intended 
new  building  before  the  town  can  realize  the  sum  now  outstanding 
for  the  sales  of  the  old  almshouse  and  workhouse.  And  to  pro- 
vide for  this  deficiency  the  Committee  have  taken  into  view  all 
the  resources  of  the  Town  within  their  knowledge.  The  lands 
now  belonging  to  the  town  within  the  Corporation  are  so  situated 
that  to  sell  them  for  this  purpose  under  existing  circumstances 
would  be  in  the  Opinion  of  the  Committee  to  make  an  unwar- 
rantable sacrifice.  There  is  also  a  Township  of  lands  in  the 
eastern  parts  of  this  Commonwealth  belonging  to  the  town  of 
Boston  but  there  are  so  few  purchasers  of  unimproved  lands 
at  this  time  the  Committee  think  it  would  bring  but  a  very 
small  part  of  the  sum  required  and  if  now  sold  it  must  be 
done  to  great  disadvantage.  The  Committee  have  also  contem- 
plated the  subject  of  an  immediate  Tax  on  the  Town  to  be 
expressly  appropriated  to  this  object  —  but  considering  the  mag- 
nitude of  the  existing  taxes,  and  the  length  of  time  requisite  to 
bring  it  into  operation  they  have  not  thought  it  expedient  to 
recommend  this  mode  of  procuring  the  necessary  supply  —  Thus 
having  taken  all  these  resources  into  view,  and  having  abandoned 
them  either  as  inexpedient,  wasteful,  or  insufficient  they  have 
turned  their  attention  to  the  only  remaining  source  [l23]  from 
whence  to  draw  the  deficient  sum  necessary  to  complete  the 
building  contemplated. — that  is  to  procure  it  on  loan  on  the 
credit  of  the  Town  until  the  intended  new  building  shall  be 
finished,  and  then  to  discharge  the  loan  by  the  money  which  will 
be  receivable  for  the  sale  of  the  old  almshouse  and  workhouse 
when  they  shall  be  evacuated  and  delivered  up  to  the  purchasers. 
It  is  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  that  the  money  may  be  obtained 
on  the  Credit  of  the  Town  at  the  usual  rate  of  interest  and  they 
recommend  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  to  borrow  from  time 
to  time  such  sums  of  money  as  the  agents  may  deem  necessary 
for  completing  the  buildings  intended  not  exceeding  the  sum  of 
Twenty  thousand  dollars.  The  Agents  will  not  want  for  a  con- 
siderable time  any  additional  supplies  to  what  they  have  already 
at  command  and  if  the  Treasurer  shall  borrow  only  as  shall  be 
wanted,  the  growing  interest  will  only  apply  to  the  sums  last 
expended  and  therefore  will  not  amount  to  any  considerable  sum. 
These  have  been  the  subjects  considered  by  the  Committee  and 
they  do  therefore  recommend  that  the  Agents  be  authorized  to 
proceed  with  all  convenient  expedition  to  erect  a  building  compe- 
tent to  the  object  before  mentioned  on  a  plan  to  be  approved  by 
the  Overseers  of  the  poor ;  that  tbey  employ  all  the  resources  now 
in  hand  arising  from  the  sales  of  the  Town  lands  for  that  purpose 
—  and  that  the  Treasurer  be  authorized  and  directed  to  borrow 
on  the  Credit  of  the  Town  such  further  sums  as  shall  be  necessary 
to  complete  the  said  building  not  exceeding  Twenty  thousand 
dollars.  — In  the  Representation  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor 
referred  to  the  Committee,  there  is  one  other  subject  on  which 


Boston  Town  Records,  1799.  67 

tliey  are  required  to  report,  that  is  a  [134]  Recommendation 
of  the  Overseers  that  the  Town  make  a  compensation  to  Capt 
Benjamin  Hammatt  for  the  injury  done  his  property  and  furni- 
ture at  the  late  iire  of  the  workhouse  and  considering  that  he 
is  an  ancient,  approved  and  faithful  servant  of  the  Town  and 
has  served  the  Town  with  fidelity  for  a  trifling  salary  for  a 
great  number  of  years.  The  Committee  having  considered  this 
subject  recommend  that  the  Town  make  him  an  allowance  of 
two  hundred  dollars  as  an  indemnity  for  his  losses  — 

William  Donnison 

P.  Order. 

The  aforegoing  report  having  been  several  times  read  and 
debated  the  question  was  put  viz  —  Whether  the  same  shall  be 
accepted  passed  by  a  very  great  majority  in  the  afBrmative  —  as 
also  that  the  sum  of  Two  hundred  dollars  be  and  hereby  is 
allowed  to  Cap*.  Benjamin  Hammatt  for  loss  sustained  in  the 
late  fire  at  the  Work-house  as  recommended  in  the  above  report 

Voted,  that  all  matters  unfinished  be  referred  over  to  May 
Meeting 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the  Hon^^^. 
Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  the  Moderator  for  his  good  services  in  the 
dispatch  given  the  business  of  this  meeting  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[125.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Boston  of  Twenty  one  years  of  age  and  upwards  qualified  as  the 
Constitution  prescribes  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town  meet- 
ing assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  first  day  of  April 
Anno  Domini  1799.  —  at  9  oClock  A.  M.  — 

Prayer  by  Rev*^.  Doct.  Lathrop. 

Warrant  for  calling  meeting     -     -     Read. 

Paragraph  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government  relative 
to  the  choice  of  Governor,  L*.  Governor  and  Senators  -  -  Read 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  votes  would  be 
received  but  such  as  were  unfolded  and  that  they  purpose  the 
Poll  should  be  closed  at  2  oClock  the  Votes  to  be  received  (but 
such  as  were  unfolded)  at  the  Table  and  the  bells  to  begin  ringing 
at  One  oClock. 

Persons,  voted  for  as  Governor  with  the  number  of  votes  for 
each  Person  Viz. 


68  City  Document  No.  115. 

Votes 
His  Excellency  Increase  Sumner  1904 

Hon^i«  William  Heath  Esq. 546 

Elbridge  Gerry  Esq. -._  1 

Peter  R  Dalton  Esq. 1 

Persons  voted  for  as  L*.  Governor,  with  the  number  of  votes 
for  each  Person  Viz*. 

His  Honor  Moses  Gill  Esq. 2446 

Hon*'!®  Samuel  Phillips  Esq. -     -  1  ■ 

Hon'^i''  George  Cabbot 1 

Mr,  John  Parker 1 

Mr.  Thomas  Stetson     .-- 1 

[136]     Persons,   voted  for  as   Senators  for  the  County  of 
Suffolk  with  the  number  of  votes  for  each  Person. 

Votes, 

jjQjjbie  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.    - 2187 

Hon^ie  Oliver  Wendall  Esq. 2294 

Hon"«.  John  C.  Jones 2233 

Jonathan  Mason  Esq. 1888 

Hon^!®.  James  Bowdoin  Esq 629 

Hon^!®.  Benjamin  Austin  Jun  Esq. 176 

William  Eustis  Esq. -     -  246 

Charles  Jarvis  Esq. 148 

Hon''!®  William  Heath  Esq. 1 

Arnold  Welles  Esq. 2 

John  Duggan 4 

John  Magner 2 

John  Codman  Esq 4 

David  Green  Esq 1 

Samuel  Cooper  Esq 1 

Samuel  Brown  Esq 1 

Benjamin  Russell  Esq 1 

Jonathan  Loring  Austin  Esq. 1 

Joseph  Blake  Esq    -          --  1 

Thomas  Lewis,  Senior 1 

Alexander  Young --  1 

Thomas  Minns 1 

Amos  Hovey 1 

Attested  copies  of  the  Persons  voted  for  as  Governor  Lieut. 
Governor  and  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  were  committed 
by  the  Town  Clerk  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth,  and 
the  enclosures  sealed  up  in  town  meeting  superscribed  as  follows 
Viz*. 

For  John  Avery  Esq. 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

[137.]      The  number  of  Votes  of  the  Town  of  Boston  for  a 


Boston  Town  Records,  1799.  69 

Governor  and  Lieut  Governor  &  four  Senators  for  the  County  of 
Suffolk  certified  within  and  sealed  up  in  Town  meeting 

Then  the  Meeting;  was  Dissolved 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town 
meeting  assembled  at  Fanuiel  Hall  on  Tuesday  the  fourteenth 
day  of  May  AD  1799.     10  °Clock  AM. 

Prayer  was  made  by  Rev*^.  Doct  Stillman 

Warrant  for  calling  a  meeting     -     -     Read 

That  part  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government  which 
relates  to  the  choice  of  Representatives  —  Read ;  also  the  law 
relative  to  mourning.* 

The  Town  having  determined  by  a  vote  to  choose  seven  Repre- 
sentatives to  represent  them  in  the  General  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts to  be  held  in  the  State  house  in  Boston  on  the  last  Wednesday 
of  May  current  agreeable  to  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  gov- 
ernment for  Massachusetts  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  by  the 
Selectmen  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their  votes  for  seven  Repre- 
sentatives and  then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no 
votes  would  be  received  but  such  as  are  unfolded,  and  that  they 
purpose  the  Poll  shall  be  closed  at  ^  past  one  °Clock  [138]  the 
assessors  to  attend  at  the  delivery  of  votes  and  the  bell  to  begin 
tolling  at  1  "Clock  and  to  continue  tolling  until  the  time  of  half 
an  hour  expire 

The  votes  being  brought  in  for  seven  Representatives  the  num- 
ber of  the  same  were  found  to  be  1403  and  upon  assorting  them 
it  appeared  that  the  following  seven  Gentlemen  had  obtained  a 
majoritv  of  votes  Viz*. 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 1332 

William  Smith  Esq. 1323 

John  Lowell  Jun.  Esq. -     .  1098 

Mr.  Samuel  Cobb 1310 

Samuel  Parkman  Esq.  -- -  1132 

Joseph  Hall  Esq. 1083 

Nathan  Frazer  Esq. 1064 

The  votes  given  for  such  as  did  not  obtain 

William  Eustis  Esq.     ---.__--.       289 
James  Bowdoin  Esq. ___       303 

*Thls  relates  to  a  By-Law  passed  in  17S5,  it  being  deemed  necessary,  owing  to  the 
excessive  expenditure  at  funerals,  to  regulate  the  outward  forms  of  mourning  to  the 
most  simple  observance,  such  as  a  piece  of  black  crape  upon  the  arm  for  men,  and 
a  black  hat  or  bonnet,  ribbons  or  fan  for  the  women. 


70  City  Document  No.  115. 

Charles  Jarvis  Esq. 19 

John  Winthrop  Esq. --.  152 

William  Tudor  Esq. 189 

Hou^^®  Benjamin  Austin  Jun.  Esq. 28 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq.     ---------  25 

Samuel  Brown  Esq. 16 

Josiali  Quincy  Esq. -  12 

Nat^  Fellows  Esq. 11 

The  other  votes  given  in  were  scattering  and  not  entered  in  this 
book  but  are  named  in  the  paper  filed  with  the  rough  minutes. 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen.  The  Hon''^''.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  was  chosen  Moder- 
ator of  this  meeting  in  order  that  the  Town  [139]  might  proceed 
in  transacting  the  other  business  mentioned  in  the  warrant. 

Adjourned  to  4  "'clock  P.  M. 

At  three  "clock  PM  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Mr.  Low  was  on  motion  excused  serving  as  Constable  — 

A  schedule  of  the  Town  expences  was  reported  and  on  motion, 
Voted  that  the  same  be  printed  &  delivered  to  the  Inhabitants  — 

The  committee  appointed  to  audit  the  Town  Treasurers  accounts 
have  attended  that  service  and  report  that  they  find  the  accounts 
well  vouched  and  rightly  cast  —  that  there  was  due  to  the  Town 
the  30"\  April  last,  by  the  Books  (exclusive  of  the  money  appro- 
propriated  for  the  building  a  new  almshouse  of  $4560.^'^^^) 

$35096  ..  59  ..  3 
From  which  must  be  deducted  Viz*. 

Towns  powder     -     -     1041  .  94  .  5 
Interest  Ace**       -     -     3302  .  70  .  1 
suppose  abatem*.  on  '98  Tax  4000  .   ,,     ,,  8344  ..  64  ..  6 


)751  ..  94 


There  is  due  from  the  Collectors  Viz. 


Benjamin  Henderson    - 

10520  , 

.  58 

Thomas  Bailey  -     -     - 

14187  , 

.  98 

James  Thompson    -     - 

14477 

..  9 

Benjamin  Jepson     -     - 

11672 

..  6^ 

$50,858  ..  33 

On  the  other  side  is  an  estimate  for  the  necessary  expences  of 
the  current  year,  and  your  Commissioners  are  of  opinion  that  a 
Tax  of  60.000  dollars  ought  to  be  laid  to  defray  the  same 


Boston  Town  Recoeds,  1799.  71 

They  annex  the  Treasurers  general  accounts  and  a  trial  Balance 
of  his  books 

all  which  is  submitted 

Herman  Brimmer 

Joseph  Russell  Jun"^.  )-  Com"" 

Samuel  Brown 

[130.]  The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  &  considered 
the  same  was  accepted,  whereupon 

Voted,  That  the  sum  of  Sixty  thousand  dollars  be  raised  by  a 
tax  to  be  assessed  on  the  Polls  and  estates  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
,  the  Town  to  defray  the  expences  of  the  current  year. 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  Six  hundred  sixty  six  dollars  be  allowed 
and  paid  unto  Samuel  Clap  for  his  services  as  Town  Treasurer  the 
present  year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become 
due,  and  to  commence  first  March  last.  — 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  Six  hundred  and  sixty  six  dollars  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  William  Cooper  for  his  services  as  Town 
Clerk  the  present  year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it 
shall  become  due  and  to  commence  from  1®*.  March  last. 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  Four  hundred  thirty  thi*ee  dollars  be 
allowed  to  each  of  the  assessors  for  their  respective  services 
the  present  year,  the  same  to  be  paid  them  quarterly  as  it  shall 
become  due  and  to  commence  the  first  of  March  last.  — 

The  choice  of  Officers  wanted  referred  to  the  adjournment. 

The  application  of  Josiah  Knapp  for  liberty  to  fill  up  the  Dock 
between  his  land  and  that  of  Mr.  Healey  etc.  read,  whereupon 

Voted  that  the  Player  of  Mr.  Knapp  be  so  far  granted  that  the 
Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  settle  with  him  on  the  principle  to 
secure  the  Town  from  any  encroachment  from  the  Petitioner,  and 
to  secure  the  rights  of  the  Town.  — 

[131.]  Another  petition  from  Josiah  Knapp  to  purchase  a 
lot  of  land  lying  on  Beach  Street,  belonging  to  the  Town  read, 
whereupon. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  [are]  authorized  and 
empowered  to  dispose  of  said  piece  of  Land  in  the  manner  printed 
out  by  a  By  Law  of  this  Town 

The  article  in  warrant  relative  to  securing  the  Towns  land  on 
the  neck,  read,  and  the  Selectmen  appointed  a  Committee  to 
consider  the  same  and  report  thereon  at  the  adjournment. 


72  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  application  of  several  of  the  Inhabitants  relative  to  a 
supply  of  monies  for  the  Board  of  health,  read,  whereupon, 

Voted,  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be  and  hereby  is  authorized 
and  empowered  to  borrow  for  the  use  of  the  Board  of  Health  a 
sum  not  exceeding  Two  thousand  dollars 

The  Articles  in  the  Warrant  viz  that  such  further  By  Laws  be 
made  as  shall  appear  necessar}^  to  improve  the  Police  of  the 
Town,  read,  whereupon 

Voted,  that  Mr.  Bourne 

Judge  Sullivan 

Mr.  Sherburne 

Cap'.  Prince 

Mr.  Lowell  Jun^ 
be  a  Committee  to  Report  such  By  Laws  as  may  be  necessary  for 
said  purpose. 

The  article  in  the  warrant  relative  to  the  increase  of  Negroes 
from  West  Indies  &c.  read,  whereupon  Voted,  that  the  afore- 
going Committee  on  the  By-laws  be  a  Committee  to  consider  this 
article  and  report  thereon. 

The  prayer  of  Judge  Wendell  for  an  exchange  of  land  with 
the  Town  on  Fort  hill  read  —  whereupon 

[133.]  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to 
consider  this  matter  and  to  report  their  opinion  thereon 

The  application  of  Auctioneers  for  leave  to  expose  their 
merchandize  in  the  Streets  —  read  and  debated  —  and  leave  given 
for  withdrawing  their  petition 

Article  in  the  warrant  relative  to  the  expediency  of  having  a 
cellar  under  Faneuil  Hall  Market,  read  —  whereupon  voted  that 
this  matter  be  left  to  the  Selectmen,  they  to  proceed  therein  as 
shall  be  judged  to  be  for  the  Interest  of  the  Town 

The  article  in  Warrant  relative  to  Major  Wilds  request  for  a 
Gunhouse — to  be  considered  at  the  adjournment.  — 

Adjourned  to  Friday  24"\  inst.  10  oClock  Forenoon. 

Friday  the  24*^*^.  May  10  oClock  Forenoon  met  according  to 
adjournment. 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  consideration  of 
what  measures  mio-ht  be  taken  relative  to  the  negroes  in  the  Town 
of  Boston  have  attended  that  service  and  beg  leave  to  report  as 
their  opinion  that  the  Commonwealth  is  deeply  interested  in  the 


Boston  Town  Records,  1799.  73 

great  influx  of  Negroes  and  the  other  people  of  colour  both  from 
the  West  Indies  &  the  Southern  States.  That  your  Committee 
have  not  had  sufficient  time  to  mature  the  subject  so  as  to  form  a 
digested  Plan  to  remedy  the  mischief.  They  however  recommend 
to  the  town  to  appoint  a  Committee  to  apply  to  the  Greneral  Court 
at  their  next  session  for  their  interposition  and  aid  in  the 
Premises,  all  which  is  humbly  submitted. 

Shearjasheb  Bourne 

[133.]  The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  the  Town 
accepted  of  the  same  and  appointed  Shearjasheb  Bourne,  Judge 
Sullivan,  William  Sherburne  Esq.,  Cap*.  Prince  &  John  Lowell 
Jun.  Esq  the  Committee  for  the  purposes  mentioned  in  said 
report 

The  Inhabitants  having  brought  in  their  votes  as  directed  by 
the  Selectmen  for  one  Selectman  in  the  room  of  Joseph  May  Esq. 
who  had  resigned  and  the  same  having  been  counted  it  appeared 
that 

Mr.  John  Tileston 
was  chosen  having  105  votes  out  of  199. 

A  memorial  of  the  assessors  was  read  and  on  motion.  Voted 
that  the  sum  of  One  hundred  dollars  be  allowed  to  each  of  the 
assessors  the  present  year  on  account  of  the  rise  of  Provisions, 
as  has  been  for  several  years  past  —  the  vote  of  the  14*^.  instant 
notwithstanding. 

Article  in  warrant  relative  to  a  Gun  house  taken  up  —  where- 
upon, Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  accommodate  Mr. 
Wilds  Company  of  Artillery  with  sufficient  ground  at  the  easterly 
end  of  the  South  Burying  place  on  the  common  for  the  purpose 
of  erecting  a  gun  house  thereon. 

Votes  brought  in  for  one  Constable,  when  it  appeared  that 
Cap*.  Joseph  Ingraham  was  chosen 

The  Selectmen  to  whom  was  referred  the  request  of  Oliver 
Wendell  Esq  for  exchange  of  land  on  Fort  hill  —  reported,  that 
Oliver  Wendell  Esq  being  absent  they  conversed  with  his  attor- 
ney and  with  the  abutters  on  the  land  proposed  to  be  exchanged, 
and  are  of  opinion  that  an  exchange  would  be  for  the  advantage 
of  the  Town  provided  suitable  conditions  could  be  agreed  on 
Charles  Bulfinch 

Chairman,  per  order. 

[134.]  The  aforegoing  report  having  been  read  the  same 
was  accepted  by  the  Town  and  the  Selectmen  authorized  &  em- 
powered to  settle  and  complete  the  business  with  Mr.  Wendell 

The  Committee  on  the  subject  of  By-laws  reported  the  form  of 


74  City  Docume:nt  No.  115. 

a  law  to  regulate  the  paving  of  the  streets  and  to  remove  Incum- 
brances on  the  same,  which  though  read  and  accepted  by  the 
Town  the  Court  of  sessions  thought  they  could  not  legally  take 
up  the  matter,  and  it  has  since  been  made  a  law  of  this  Common- 
wealth—  also  a  By-Law  for  the  regulating  of  trucks  carts  and 
other  carriages  which  has  been  approved  of  by  the  Court  of  Ses- 
sions and  is  as  follows  Viz*.  For  the  regulation  of  Trucks  Carts 
and  other  carriages  in  the  Streets  of  Boston. 

That  the  selectmen  be  authorized  within  one  month  after  the 
publication  of  this  By-law  and  from  time  to  time  afterwards  as 
occasion  may  require  to  appoint  such  and  so  many  stands  for  all 
kinds  of  Carts  Trucks  and  Wheelbarrows  as  to  them  shall  appear 
requisite,  to  some  one  or  other  of  which  stands  all  drivers  of  such 
Carts  and  Trucks  shall  repair  with  their  carriages  and  horses 
when  unemployed  in  the  day,  And  any  driver  or  owner  of  such 
Cart  Truck  or  Wheelbarrow  who  shall  stand  in  any  other  place 
than  such  as  shall  be  directed  by  the  Selectmen  shall  forfeit  and 
pay  for  every  offence  One  dollar 

Each  and  every  driver  or  owner  of  a  cart  or  truck  shall  place 
his  horses  and  cart  or  trucks  length-ways  close  to  the  Posts  or 
abutting  stone  of  the  footwalk  of  the  Street  in  which  he  shall 
stand  under  the  penalty  of  One  dollar  for  every  neglect. 

And  no  more  than  one  range  of  Carts  or  Trucks  shall  stand  in 
Streets  not  more  than  30  feet  wide  and  not  more  than  one  range 
on  each  side  in  streets  which  are  of  a  greater  width  than  30  feet  — 
and  in  squares  and  other  large  &  open  [135]  places  they  shall 
be  arranged  by  order  and  conform  to  the  directions  of  the  Select- 
men or  the  surveyors  of  high  ways,  and  every  driver  neglecting  to 
conform  to  this  law  shall  forfeit  and  pay  one  dollar  for  every 
offence. 

If  any  Waggoner,  Carter,  Truckman  or  other  Driver  of  any  Car- 
riage, Sled  or  Sleigh  for  pleasure  or  burthen  shall  stop  or  place 
any  such  carriage  Sled  or  Sleigh  in  any  such  manner  as  to  cross 
the  street  or  foot  path  or  prevent  other  carriages  or  foot  passen- 
gers from  passing  in  the  direction  of  such  street  and  shall  not  in 
five  minutes  after  the  request  of  any  passenger  cause  the  same  to 
be  removed  or  shall  be  absent  therefrom  so  that  such  request 
cannot  be  made,  every  person  so  offending  shall  forfeit  and  pay 
for  every  offence  One  dollar. 

All  which  fines  and  forfeitures  upon  conviction  before  any 
Court  proper  to  try  the  same  shall  be  one  moiety  to  and  for  the 
use  of  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Boston  and  the  other  moiety  to 
him  or  them  who  shall  inform  or  prosecute  for  the  same. 

On  motion  voted  that  all  matters  which  shall  remain  unfinished 
be  referred  to  the  next  general  meeting  that  shall  be  called. 


BosTON^  Town  Records,  1799.  75 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given 
to  the  Hon^'*'.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq  Moderator  for  his  good  ser- 
vices in  the  dispatch  given  the  business  of  the  meeting. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[136]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
public  town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the 
^ti".  day  of  July  AD  1799. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting  —  Read. 

William  Cooper  chosen  Moderator. 

The  Committee  appointed  last  year  to  make  choice  of  a  Gen- 
tleman to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  Independence. 
Reported,  that  they  had  made  choice  of  John  Lowell  Jun  Esq  who 
has  accepted  the  appointment  — 

On  motion  adjourned  to  Old  South  Church  when  agreeable  to 
Information  of  the  Chairman  of  the  selectmen 

AN    ORATION 

to  commemorate  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  was  de- 
livered by  John  Lowell  Jun  Esq  at  the  Old  South  Church. 

On  motion  voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on 
John  Lowell  Jun  Esq  and  in  the  name  of  the  Town  to  thank  him 
for  the  spirited  and  elegant  Oration  this  day  delivered  by  him  at 
the  request  of  the  Town,  upon  the  Anniversary  of  the  Indepen- 
dence of  the  United  States  of  America  in  which  according  to  the 
institution  of  the  Town  he  considered  the  feelings  manners  and 
principles  which  led  to  that  great  National  event,  and  to  request 
of  him  a  Copy  thereof  for  the  press. 

[137]  On  motion.  Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  be 
and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  apply  to  some  one  able 
and  learned  Gentlemen  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  fourth  of 
July,  AD,  1800,  that  day  being  the  Anniversary  of  the  Indepen- 
dence of  the  United  States  of  America ;  wherein  the'Orator  is  to 
consider  the  feelings  manners  and  principles  which  led  to  this 
great  national  event,  as  well  as  the  important  and  happy  effects 
whether  general  or  domestic  which  have  already  or  will  forever 
flow  from  that  conspicuous  Epoch 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


76  City  Document  No.  115. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public 
Town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday,  the 
Twenty  fifth  day  of  September,  Anno  Domini  1799.  10  °Clock 
AM— 

Warrant  for  calling  a  meeting    -     -     Read. 

General  Elliot,  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  vote,  being  by  his 
desire  excused. 

General  Winslow  chosen  Moderator,  and  being  by  his  desire 
also  excused. 

The  Hon^^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq  was  chosen  Moderator  and 
took  the  chair  accordingly. 

The  article  in  the  warrant  viz.  whether  any  and  what  measures 
shall  be  taken  to  carry  into  effect  the  will  of  the  late  Thomas 
Boylston  Esq.  — was  read 

[138.]     Whereupon,  Voted,  that 

Hon^'*^.  James  Sullivan  Esq 
Dr.  Charles  Jarvis  (excused) 
Hon*''®.  Harrison  G.  Otis  Esq 
Hon^^'^.  George  R.  Minot  Esq 
John  Davis  Esq 
John  Lowell  Jun  Esq 
Hon*''^  Robt  T  Paine  Esq 
Hon'''®  Judge  Dawes 

be  a  Committee  to  take  this  matter  into  consideration  and  to 

report  on  the  same  at  the  adjournment. 

The  article  in  the  warrant  relative  to  a  gun  house  at  the  bottom 
of  the  Common  and  a  petition  of  a  large  number  of  the  Inhabitants 
for  reconsidering  the  Vote  of  the  Town  permitting  its  erection, 
were  read  —  Voted  that  the  Petitioners  have  leave  to  withdraw 
their  petition  — 

The  article  in  the  warrant  viz  "  To  consider  the  Report  of  the 
Selectmen  with  respect  to  such  streets  as  have  been  laid  out  by 
them,  also  the  expediency  of  widening  several  streets  and  whether 
the  Town  will  appropriate  any  money  to  defray  the  expence 
thereof  "  was  read  and  accepted,  also 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  Four  thousand  dollars  be  appropriated 
for  the  purpose  of  defraying  the  charge  of  widening  such  streets 
as  the  Selectmen  may  judge  proper 

The  Selectmen  appointed  to  regulate  the  Jury  Boxes  according 

to  Law 


Boston  Town  Records,  1799.  77 

The  article  relative  to  speedy  collecting  of  the  Tax  for  1798 
read  —  whereupon  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  call 
upon  the  Collectors  and  press  their  exerting  themselves  for  the 
speedy  collection  of  the  Tax  of  1798,  and  that  the  same  be 
published. 

[139.]  Messrs.  Daniel  Ingersol  Jun 

William  Andrews 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Boards  for  the  present  year 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday  the  23'^'  October  next  10  "Clock  AM 

Wednesday  Oct  23,  1799.  10  "Clock  AM  met  according  to 
adjournment 

The  Committee  on  the  will  of  the  late  Thomas  Boylston, 
reported  as  follows  viz  . 

That  they  have  attended  to  the  opinion  given  thereon  by  a 
Council  in  London  as  the  same  is  annexed  to  a  copy  of  the  will : 
and  are  nevertheless  of  opinion  that  the  Town  of  Boston  are 
entitled  to  the  property  and  as  a  Corporation  may  sue  for  the 
same. 

And  that  it  is  expedient  for  the  Town  to  appoint  Agents  with 
power  of  substitution,  giving  to  them  authority  to  pursue  all 
measures  to  carry  the  will  into  effect. 

That  the  Selectmen  have  authority  to  make  provision  for 
defraying  all  expences  attending  the  business 

)  James  Sullivan 

October  21.  1799  i"  Chairman 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  and  considered  —  the 
question  was  put,  viz.  Whether  said  Report  shall  be  accepted — 
Passed  in  the  aflflrmative,  also 

Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  be  the  Agents  for 
carrying  said  Report  into  effect  — 

Voted,  that  all  matters  which  remain  unfinished  be  referred  to 
the  next  General  Town  meeting 

Voted,  that  the  thanks  of  this  Town  be  given  to  Hon^^®.  Thomas 
Dawes  Esq.  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


[140.]      At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabit- 
ants of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town 


78  City  Document  No.  115. 

meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  30"\  December 
AD  1799  —  10  °Clock  AM 

"Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting  —  Read 

The  Hon^^''.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator. 

The  article  in  the  warrant  viz  to  consider  what  measures  shall 
be  taken  by  the  Town  on  occasion  of  the  sorrowful  and  distress- 
ing event  of  the  death  of  the  late  Lieu*.  George  Washington,  in 
testimony  of  the  high  respect  and  esteem  entertained  by  his 
fellow  Citizens  for  so  illustrious  a  character,  the  following  votes 
were  passed  unanimously  viz 

Voted  that  a  Committee  be  appointed  consisting  of  eighteen  of 
which  the  Selectmen  shall  form  a  constituent  part  to  devise  and 
recommend  to  the  Inhabitants  such  marks  of  mourning  and  other 
expressions  of  public  sensibility  on  the  late  afflictive  event  as  to 
the  said  Committee  shall  appear  just  and  appropriate  —  and  that 
such  measures  as  they  shall  recommend  to  the  Inhabitants  through 
the  medium  of  the  public  papers  shall  be  by  them  immediately 
adopted. 

Voted  that  said  Committee  be  desired  to  elect  and  request  one 
of  our  fellow  Citizens  to  pronounce  an  eulogium  on  the  memory 
of  the  late  Gen"^.  Washington  at  such  time  and  place  as  they 
shall  think  proper.  — 

[141.]  Voted,  that  in  addition  to  the  Gentlemen  the  select- 
men 

The  Hon^^^.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 
Hon''^^.  John  C.  Jones  Esq. 
Hon*''^  Judge  Minot 

Josiah  Quincy  Esq. 
Col.  Revere 
Col.  Bradford 
Gen'.  Elliot 
Gen'.  Winslow 
Joseph  Russell  Esq. 
be  and   hereby  are  appointed   the    Committee  for  carrying  into 
effect  the  aforegoing  votes.  — 

The  article  in  the  warrant  relative  to  old  State  house  was 
read  —  whereupon 

Voted  that  the  Hon'''®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.,  Oliver  Wendell  Esq., 
the  Senators  of  this  district  and  the  Representatives  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  be  authorized  with  full  powers  to  make  any  contract 
with  the  General  Court  relative  to  the  Old  Town  house  and  the 
land  on  which  it  stands,  on  terms  which  to  them  may  appear  most 
for  the  advantage  and  honor  of  the  Town 


Boston  Town  Records,  1800.  79 

Voted,  that  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Hon^^®.  Thomas 
Dawes  Esq  for  his  good  services  as  moderator  of  the  meeting. 

Then  the  meeting  was  Dissolved. 


1800. 

[142.]      At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabit- 
ants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
public  town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the 
tenth  day  of  March  Anno  Domini  1800,  9°Clock  —  Forenoon. 
Prayer  was  made  by  Rev*^.  Dr.  Howard. 

Warrant  for  calling  a  meeting  was  read 

Sundry  laws  to  be  read  at  this  meeting  were  accordingly  read. 

Hon^^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand 
vote. 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
votes  for  a  Town  Clerk  and  the  same  being  brought  in  and 
counted  it  appeared  that 

William  Cooper  Esq. 
was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  year  ensuing ;   and  the  oath  of 
office  was  administered  by  Mr.  Justice  Sherburne 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
votes  for  nine  Selectmen  and  upon  assorting  them  it  appeared  that 
the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen  Viz 

Charles  Bulfinch  Esq 
David  Tilden  Esq 
Russell  Sturgis  Esq 
Cap*.  Joseph  Howard 
Eben"".  Hancock 
William  Porter 
William  Sherburne  Esq. 
John  Tileston 
Ebenezer  Oliver 

[143.]  The  votes  being  brought  in  for  Overseers  of  the 
Poor  as  directed,  upon  assorting  them  it  appeared  that 

Edward  Proctor  Esq. 
John  Sweetser  Esq. 
Jon^.  L.  Austin  Esq. 
Mr.  Edward  Edes 
Henry  Hill  Esq 
William  Smith  Esq 


80  City  Document  No.  115. 

William  Phillips  Esq. 
M.  Oliver  Brewster 
Arnold  Welles  Jun''  Esq 
Doct  Redford  Webster 
Thomas  Perkins  Esq. 
were  chosen  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  year  ensuing. 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  votes  for  24  Firewards  when  it 
appeared  that 

Thomas  Melvill  Esq 

Edward  Edes 

Amasa  Davis  Esq 

Samuel  Parkman  Esq. 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq 

Henry  Jackson 

William  Scollay 

Joseph  May  —  Esq 

Cap*.  Robert  Gardner 

John  May 

William  Brown  Esq 

Nathaniel  Fellows  Esq 

Samuel  Bradford  Esq 

Mr.  Joseph  Head 

Thomas  H.  Perkins  Esq 

John  Winslow  Esq 

Capt.  Joseph  Howard 

Benjamin  Jay  [Joy?] 

Stephen  Codman  Esq 

Andrew  Cunningham  Esq 

John  Bray 

Thomas  Dennie  Esq 

Gen'l  Simon  Elliot  Esq 
[144.]  Mr.  Gorman  Parsons 

were  chosen  Fire-wards  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Mr.  Samuel 
Cobb  who  has  resigned  as  a  selectman,  for  his  good  services 
while  in  that  office  —  Also  to  Jabez  Hatch  Esq.  Joseph  Russell 
Esq  who  have  declined  serving  as  firewards  for  their  good  services 
in  that  Office  a  number  of  years  past,  and  to  Rev.  Doct  Stillman 
and  Dr.  Spooner  who  declined  serving  as  a  school  committee,  for 
their  good  services  a  number  of  years  past. 

Samuel  Clap  Esq 
was  chosen  Town  Treasurer  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Votes  for  a  treasurer  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  brought  in  and 
counted  by  the  moderator  and  Town  Clerk,  when  it  appeared  that 
the  whole  number  [was]  208  all  of  which  were  [for]  Ebenezer 
Sever  Esq  a  suitable  person  &  a  freeholder  and  resident  in  said 
County 


Boston  Town  Records,  1800.  81 

Voted  that  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  twelve  persons  shall 
now  be  chosen  as  a  school  committee  and  the  votes  being  brought 
in  and  assorted  it  appear'd  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were 
chosen  —  Viz 

Hon**'®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 

Sam'.  West  DD. 

Joseph  Eckley  DD. 

Eev*^.  Mr,  Kirkland 

Doct  Thomas  Welsh 

Doct  Aaron  Dexter 

Mr.  William  Smith 

Mr.  Arnold  Welles  Jun 

Edward  Gray  Esq 

David  Green  Esq 

Rufus  G.  Amory  Esq 

Josiah  Quincy  Esq. 

[145.]  Voted  that  the  above  named  Gentlemen  who 
conjunctly  with  the  Selectmen  are  termed  the  School  Committee 
be  and  hereby  are  directed  to  carry  the  new  system  of  Education 
which  has  been  adopted  by  the  town  into  operation  by  said  com- 
mittee [and]  are  also  authorized  &  impowered  conjunctly  to 
manage  and  regulate  the  Officers  &  government  of  the  Schools  a,nd 
in  future  to  exercise  all  the  power  relating  [to]  the  Schools  and 
School  masters,  which  the  Selectmen  or  such  Committees  were 
authorized  by  the  laws  of  this  Commonwealth  or  the  Votes  of  the 
Town  to  exercise ;  any  former  vote  of  the  Town  to  the  contrary 
notwithstanding. 

Voted,  that  the  Assessors  be  and  hereby  are  directed  to  set  for 
such  abatement  of  taxes  as  they  shall  judge  reasonable  two  days 
in  such  weeks,  after  the  delivery  of  the  tax  books  to  the  collectors, 
for  the  space  of  six  weeks  and  no  longer,  saving  they  be  allowed 
to  sit  the  last  week  in  February,  (Lords  days  excepted)  for  the 
abatement  of  the  Taxes  of  such  persons  as  had  not  an  oppor- 
tunity of  applying  in  the  above  limited  time  by  reason  of  their 
being  out  [of]  the  Commonwealth,  or  any  other  unavoidable 
hindrance,  and  that  the  Assessors  determine  on  the  said  two  days, 
which  is  to  be  voted  on,  the  tax  bills  to  be  delivered  the 
Inhabitants 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  assessors  &  counted  and 
assorted  it  appeared  that  Messrs. 

John  R  Sigourney 

Caleb  Blanchard 

Ebenezer  Sever  Esq 

John  Hurd  Esq 

Mr,  Benjamin  Hammatt  Junior 
were  chosen  assessors  for  the  year  ensuing 

Voted  that  Five  per  cent  be  and  hereby  are  allowed  to  the  Col- 


82  City  Document  No.  115. 

lectors  of  taxes  for  the  year  ensuing  for  all  such  sums  of  money 
and  public  Securities  as  they  shall  collect  &  pay  in  to  the  several 
Treasurers  of  the  sums  committed  to  them  to  collect,  also  that  such 
Collectors  shall  give  bond  with  sufficient  sureties  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  Selectmen  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  duty  in  said 
office  and  [146J  complying  with  this  vote,  and  that  they  will  not 
receive  any  premium  or  gratuity  for  discounting  any  orders  & 
notes  on  receipts  from  the  Treasurer  of  this  State  or  the  Treas- 
urer of  this  Town  — 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  four  Collectors  of  Taxes  it  ap- 
peared that 

Messrs.  Benjamin  Henderson 
Thomas  Bayley 
James  Thompson 
Benjamin  Jepson 
were  chosen  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Shubael  Hewes 

Thomas  Stevenson 
Amos  Lewis 
Jirali  Holbrook 
Samuel  White 
Enoch  May 
Abraham  Tuckerman 
Noah  Butts 
John  Trench 
Samuel  Gridley 
Andrew  Townsend 
Joseph  Ingraham 
were  chosen  Constables  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Votes  for  12  Surveyors  of  boards  and  shingles  were  brought  in, 
when  it  appeared  that 

Messrs.  Joshua  Bentley 

Benjamin  White 

Benjamin  Page 

James  Blake 

John  Cogswell 

Edmund  Ranger 

William  Clouston 

William  Darracott 

William  Ellison 

James  Robbins 

William  Andrews 

Daniel  IngersoU 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  boards  &  shingles  for  the  year  ensuing. 

[147.]    Voted  tha   Herman  Brimmer  Esq 
Joseph  Russell  Esq 
Samuel  Brown  Esq 


Boston  Town  Records,  1800.  83 

be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  audit  the  accounts  of 
the  Town  Treasurer  and  also  the  accounts  of  the  Selectmen,  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor  and  board  of  Health,  and  said  Committee  are 
also  directed  to  report  the  sum  necessary  to  be  raised  for  the 
services  of  the  present  year. 

On  motion  Voted  that 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 

Wilham  Parsons 

John  C.  Jones  Esq 
be  a  committee  to  consider  what  number  of  Cullers  of  staves  and 
hoops  shall  be  chosen  for  the  year  ensuing 

Adjourned  to  3  oClock  P.  M. 

At  three  oClock  P  M  the  Town  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Messrs.  Thomas  Bradlee 
David  Hollis 
Nathaniel  Loring 
Thomas  Sullivan 
were  chosen  Sealers  of  leather  for  the  year  ensuing 

Messrs.  Benjamin  White 
Moses  Ayers 
Daniel  Ingersol 
William  Darricot 
were  chosen  Fence  viewers  for  the  year  ensuing 

Messrs.  George  Hamlin 
Barney  Connor 
Wilham  Wheeler 
were  chosen  Hogreeves  for  the  year  ensuing 

Messrs.  George  Hamlin 
Barney  Connor 
William  Wheeler 
were  chosen  Haywards  for  the  year  ensuing 

Messrs.  Jeffry  Richardson 
Isaac  P.  Davis 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Hemp  for  the  year  ensuing 

[148.]  Edward  Tuckerman  Esq. 

Mr.  Edward  Edes 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  wheat  for  the  year  ensuing 

Messrs.  John  Wells 

William  Cooper  Hunneman 
were  chosen  Assay  Masters  for  the  year  ensuing. 


84  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  Selectmen 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Highway  for  the  year  ensuing 

Messrs.  Roger  Barlett 

Jonathan  Gushing 
Joseph  Doble 
William  Late 
were  chosen  cullers  of  dry  fish  for  the  year  ensuing 

Mr.  Edward  Rumley 
was  chosen  Inspector  of  Stone  lime  for  the  year  ensuing. 

The  article  in  the  warrant,  viz  "To  act  upon  the  petition  of 
Nathaniel  Patten  of  Roxbury  that  the  Town  would  sell  or  lease 
to  him  a  spot  of  ground  adjoining  the  Ropewalk  on  Boston 
Neck,  and  to  consider  what  measures  shall  be  taken  to  improve 
the  Towns  property  there,"  was  read  :  Whereupon  Voted  that  the 
Gentlemen  Selectmen  be  a  committee  to  take  said  Petition  and 
the  Subject  of  the  Towns  lands  on  the  neck  into  full  considera- 
tion, and  to  report  at  May  meeting 

The  petition  of  Mr.  John  Kuhn  in  behalf  of  himself  and 
William  Kempton  that  the  Town  would  remit  their  proportion  of 
the  Fine  incurred  by  them  for  erecting  a  building  contrary  to  law, 
in  conformity  to  a  resolve  of  the  Hon^'®.  Legislature  passed  for 
their  relief  was  read  and  considered  —  and  the  question  being  put 
viz  Whether  the  prayer  of  this  petition  shall  be  granted  passed  in 
the  affirmative. 

The  article  in  the  warrant  viz  ' '  To  consider  whether  any  and 
what  measures  shall  be  taken  to  endeavour  to  effect  the  permanent 
estabUshment  of  a  Dock  Yard  [149]  for  the  continental  nary 
within  the  limits  of  the  town  was  read,  whereupon  Voted  that 
Messrs.  William  Parsons 

Edmund  Hart 

John  Coffin  Jones  Esq 

Samuel  Brown  Esq 

Henry  Jackson  Esq 
be  a  committee  to  consider  this  article  and  report  thereon  at  the 
adjournment  of  this  meeting 

The  article  in  the  warrant  viz  Whether  the  Selectmen  shall  be 
empowered  to  carry  into  effect  a  vote  of  the  town  passed  in  1791 
for  erecting  new  stalls  in  market  square  to  accommodate  the  per- 
sons frequenting  the  market  and  to  remove  the  great  number  of 
carts  and  horses  from  the  streets  in  that  neighborhood  "  read  and 
considered — whereupon  Voted  that  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  be 
directed  to  proceed  in  this  business  agreeable  to  the  vote  passed 
in  1791  —  and  as  they  shall  judge  will  be  most  for  the  interest  of 
the  Town 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday  the  19"\  inst.  10  °Clock  AM. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1800.  85 

Wednesday  March  19,  1800 —  10  "Clock  AM  met  according  to 
adjournment 

Rev^.  "William  Emmerson  chosen  one  of  the  School  committee 
in  the  room  of  Rufus  G-  Amory  who  has  resigned,  and  to  whom  a 
vote  of  thanks  was  given  for  his  good  services  while  of  that 
committee 

Samuel  Adams 
chosen  into  the  office  of  a  Hay  ward,  also  that  of  a  Hogreeve  for 
the  year  ensuing. 

The  Town  having  voted  to  choose  four  cullers  of  hoops  and 
staves  and  the  votes  having  been  bro*.  in  accordingly  it  appeared 
that 

Messrs.  Henry  Purkitt 

Lemuel  Gardner 
Thomas  Barber 
James  'Eunson 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  hoops  and  Staves  for  the  year  ensuing 

[150.]  The  committee  appointed  to  consider  whether  any 
and  what  measures  shall  be  taken  to  effect  the  establishment  of  a 
national  dockyard  within  the  limits  of  this  Town ;  have  attended 
to  the  object  of  their  commission  and  after  [having]  duly  con- 
sidered the  vacant  lands  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  between 
Winnisimmet  Ferry  and  the  lower  bridge,  on  Noddles  Island  the 
latter  being  within  the  limits  of  the  town  are  convenient  for  a 
public  Dock  Yard  but  if  the  former  of  these  situations  is  pre- 
ferred, the  Town  way  must  be  included  within  the  limits  of  the 
yard ;  but  as  the  United  States  will  have  jurisdiction  over  all 
places  ceded  to  them .  the  Committee  prefer  Noddles  Island  as  a 
place  where  there  will  be  less  danger  of  a  clashing  of  Jurisdiction 
and  when  [where]  the  people  employed  in  the  Dock  Yard  will  be 
kept  more  easily  under  control  of  the  national  laws  and  have  less 
intercourse  with  the  other  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  therefore  the 
Committee  have  concluded  to  report  that  measures  be  taken  to 
endeavour  to  effect  the  permanent  establishment  of  a  dock  for  the 
Continental  Navy  within  the  limits  of  this  town  and  further 
propose  that  the  board  of  Selectmen  with  William  Parsons  Henry 
Jackson  John  C  Jones  and  Edmund  Hart  be  authorized  &  re- 
quested to  correspond  with  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  on  this 
Subject,  and  further  to  take  all  prudent  and  reasonable  measures 
that  may  be  necessaiy  to  effect  the  contemplated  establishment 

William  Parsons 
Henry  Jackson 
John  C  Jones 
Edmund  Hart 

The  aforegoing  report  having  been  read  &  amended  the  ques- 
tion was  put  viz.  Whether  the  same  shall  be  accepted  —  Passed 
in  the  affirmative. — 


86  City  Document  No.  115. 

Voted  that  all  matters  which  shall  remain  unfinished  at  this 
meeting,  be  referred  over  to  May  meeting. 

[151.]  Voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  town  be  given  to  the 
Hon^'^.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  the  moderator  of  this  meeting  for 
his  good  services  in  the  dispatch  given  the  business  which  came 
before  them. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  male  Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Boston  of 
twenty-one  years  of  age  and  upwards,  qualified  as  the  Constitu- 
tion prescribes,  and  legally  warned  in  public  town  meeting 
assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  seventh  day  of  April 
Anno  Domini  1800,  9  °Clock  A  M  — 

Prayer  was  made  by  Rev*^.  Doct  Thatcher 

"Warrant  for  calling  a  meeting  was     -     -     Read    ' 

Paragraph  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government  rela- 
tive to  the  choice  of  Governor  L^  Governor  &  Senators    -    Read 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Votes  would  be 
received  but  such  as  were  unfolded,  and  that  they  propose  the 
poll  should  be  closed  at  half  past  One  °Clock  the  votes  to  be 
received  at  the  table  and  the  bells  to  begin  ringing  at  one  "Clock, 
and  to  continue  for  half  an  hour 

Persons  voted  for  as  Governor,  with  the  number  of  votes  for 
each  person  Viz\ 

Votes. 

His  Honor  Moses  Gill 8 

Hon''^''  Elbridge  Gerry  Esq     - 1555 

Hon^i'^  Caleb  Strong  Esq 1531 

Hon''^^  Edward  Hutchinson  Esq 2 

Horx^ie  ^Yiiiiam  Heath  Esq 1 

*Persons  voted  for  as  Lt.  Governor,  with  the  number  of  votes 
for  each  person,  Vizt. 

His  Honor  Moses  Gill 3,035 

Hon^i^  Wm.  Heath  Esq. 26 

Hon'^ie  gami  Phillips  Esq.  --------  9 

Hon^i'' [Theophilus?]CushingEsq. 3 

Hon'^^®  Caleb  Strong  Esq. 5 

Hon''^®  Fisher  Ames  Esq.    - 4 

Hon^i^  Elbridge  Gerry  -     -    •- -  2 

Hon^^^e  Edw.  H.  Robbins  Esq. 1 

Hon^'^®  .James  Bowdoin .1 

*This  list  of  candidates  and  voters  was  omitted  from  these  records,  and  lias  been 
taken  from  the  return  filed  in  the  Archives  Department  of  the  office  of  the  Secretary 
of  the  Commonwealth. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1800.  87 

[153.]  Persons  voted  for  as  Senators  with  the  number  of 
votes  for  each  person  Viz'. 

Votes 

jjojjbie  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 3000 

Hon^ie  Oliver  Wendell  Esq 3064 

Hon^i^  John  C  Jones  Esq 3067 

William  Eustis  Esq       --. 1553 

Hon^'^  Jonathan  Mason     - 1534 

Charles  Jarvis  Esq  - 20 

Hon'''®  James  Bowdoin  Esq    -- 12 

John  Codman  Esq 41 

jjQj^bie  Benjamin  Austin  Jun  Esq 19 

William  Smith  Esq 7 

Hon'''®  Theophilus  Gushing  Esq 3 

Samuel  Brown  Esq -  1 

George  Blake  Esq    -- 2 

Attested  copies  of  the  persons  voted  for  as  Governor  L* 
Governor  and  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  were  committed 
by  the  Town  Clerk  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts  and  the  inclosures  sealed  up  in  Town  meeting 
subscribed  as  follows  Viz' 

For  John  Avery  Esq. 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

The  number  of  votes  for  the  Town  of  Boston,  for  a  Governor 
L^  Governor,  and  four  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,-  certi- 
fied within  and  sealed  up  in  Town  meeting 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


[153.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified,  and  legally  warned,  in 
public  Town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Tuesday  the 
eighth  day  of  April  A  D  1800,  10  °Clock  A  M 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting     -     -     Read 

Hon'''®  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 
was  chosen  Moderator  for  this  meeting  by  a  hand  vote  ^ 

The  article  in  the  warrant  relative  to  compensation  to  Judge  of 
Municipal  Court,  and  to  choose  a  suitable  person  learned  in  law  to 
appear  as  advocate  in  said  Court  and  to  grant  him  compensation 
was  read,  whereupon  it  was  moved  and  voted  that 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 

General  Elliot 

Hon"'®  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 

Josiah  Quincy  Esq 

Mr  Ebenezer  Oliver 

Charles  Bulfinch  Esq 


88  City  Document  No.  115, 

be  a  committee  to  take  the  matter  of  compensation  into  considera- 
tion and  report  in  this  meeting 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  bring  in  their  votes  for  a 
suitable  person  to  appear  as  advocate  in  the  Municipal  Court,  and 
the  votes  being  brought  in  &  assorted  it  appeared  that 

John  Phillips,  was  chosen. 

The  Committee  chosen  to  consider  what  sum  would  be  an  ade- 
quate compensation  to  the  Judge  of  the  Municipal  Court,  and  to 
the  Advocate  for  the  Town  in  the  said  Court  report. 

That  in  the  year  1797  the  Town  voted  that  such  a  Court  was 
expedient  and  necessary,  and  directed  an  application  to  be  made 
to  the  legislature  for  its  establishni*. 

[154.]  This  application  has  been  several  time  under  consider- 
ation in  the  General  Court  and  at  the  last  session  of  the  Legislat- 
ure received  their   sanction  and  was  established  by  law  — 

The  committee  in  proposing  a  sum  as  compensation  to  the 
Judge  and  Advocate  which  are  to  be  appointed  are  desirous 
of  naming  what  would  be  honorable  to  the  Town  and  would 
insure  the  services  of  G-entlemen  of  abilities  and  respectability, 
at  the  same  time  they  wish  to  pay  a  proper  regard  to  decent 
economy 

The  committee  would  suggest  that  by  the  law  the  salary  now  to 
be  voted  cannot  be  reduced  during  the  continuance  of  the  Judge 
in  his  office  but  may  be  increased  at  the  pleasure  of  the  Town  if 
upon  experience  it  should  not  prove  adequate  to  the  services  per- 
formed ;  the  Committee  therefore  propose  that  the  sum  of  Five 
hundred  dollars  Pr  Annum  be  allowed  as  salary  to  the  Judge  of  the 
Municipal  Court,  and  that  the  sum  of  Two  hundred  dollars  Pr 
Annum  be  allowed  to  the  Town  Advocate  —  these  Officers  to 
account  respectively  to  the  Town  Treasurer  for  the  Fees  and 
P'ines  arising  in  their  respective  offices  — 

Joseph  Russell  Pr  Order 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  and  considered  —  the 
Question  was  put,  Viz.  shall  it  be  accepted  —  passed  in  the 
affirmative. 

Then  the  Meeting  dissolved. 


[155.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  town  of  Boston  duly  qualified,  and  legally  warned  in  pub- 
lic town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Tuesday  the  thir- 
teenth day  of  May  AD  1800  10  °Clock  AM  — 


BosTox  Town  Records,  1800.  89 

Prayer  was  made  by  Rev*^.  Doct.  Elliot 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting  Read 

That  part  of  the  constitution  or  frame  of  government  which 
relates  to  the  choice  of  Representatives  Read 

The  law  relative  to  mourning,*  and  extracts  from  several  laws  to 
be  read  in  Town  meeting 

The  Town  having  determined  by  a  vote  to  choose  seven 
persons  to  represent  them  in  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts 
to  be  held  in  the  State  house  in  Boston  on  the  last  Wednesday  of 
May  current,  agreeable  to  the  Constitution  or  frame  of  govern- 
ment for  Massachusetts ;  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  by  the 
Selectmen  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their  votes  for  seven  Repre- 
sentatives, and  then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  votes 
would  be  received  but  such  as  are  unfolded,  and  that  they  pur- 
pose the  poll  shall  be  closed  at  half -past  One  °Clock  —  the 
assessors  to  attend  at  the  delivery  of  the  votes,  and  the  bell  to 
begin  tolling  at  One  "Clock,  and  to  continue  tolUng  until  a  half  an 
hour  is  expired. 

The  votes  being  brought  in  for  seven  Representatives  the 
whole  number  of  the  same  were  found  to  be  2449,  and  upon 
assorting  them  it  appeared  that  the  following  seven  Gentlemen 
had  obtained  a  majority  of  the  votes  Viz*. 

Votes 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 2417 

William  Smith  Esq. 2429 

John  Lowell  Jun  Esq.  ---- 1552 

Mr.  Samuel  Cobb     -     -     - 2361 

Samuel  Parkman  Esq.  -- 2405 

Joseph  Hall  Esq.     -' 1559 

Nathan  Eraser  Esq. -     -     1552 

The  votes  given  for  such  as  did  not  obtain  a  majority  were  for 

William  Tudor  Esq .     .     .       882 

William  Eustis  Esq 911 

James  Bowdoin  Esq      ---------       886 

besides  a  few  scattering  votes. 

[156.]     The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over    and    de- 
clared by  the  Selectmen 

The  Hon''^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 
was    chosen   Moderator  of  this  meeting  in  order  that  the  town 
might  proceed  in  transacting  the  other  business  mentioned  in  the 
warrant 

Adjourned  to  4  "Clock  PM 

*  See  foot-note  on  page  69. 


90  City  Document  No.  115. 

At  3  £4?]  oClock  PM  the  town  met  according  to  adjournment. 

On  motion  Voted  that  the  choice  of  an  assessor  in  the  room  of 
Mr.  Blanchard  lately  deceased  be  referred  over  to  the  adjourn- 
ment —  Also 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  request  the  Committee  relative  to 
cullers  of  Staves  to  report  suitable  persons  for  that  office,  if  they 
should  think  a  further  nmnber  to  be  necessary. 

The  memorial  of  the  Board  of  Health  was  read  but  it  was  the 
sense  of  the  Town  that  it  should  not  be  acted  upon  until  the 
Committee  on  money  matters  report. 

The  article  in  the  warrant  viz  Whether  the  Town  will  empower 
the  Selectmen  to  sell  part  of  a  piece  of  land  at  the  head  of 
Middlecot  street  so  called  lately  bought  of  Thomas  Dennie" 
read;  whereupon.  Voted  that  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  be,  and 
they  hereby  are  authorized  and  impowered  to  dispose  of  said 
piece  of  land  for  the  most  it  will  fetch,  and  to  apply  the  proceeds 
thereof  to  defray  the  expences  of  the  new  street,  and  the  neces- 
sary repairs  for  Beacon  Hill. 

The  application  of  John  L.  Sullivan  in  behalf  of  himself  and 
Sarah  Russell  a  minor,  that  the  Town  would  accept  a  Street  lead- 
ing from  Summer  Street  to  Pond  Street  through  lands  of  the  late 
Thomas  Russell  in  the  words  following  viz  "The  Subscriber 
requests  that  a  Street  may  be  laid  out  from  Summer  Street  to 
Pond  Street,  through  land  of  Thomas  Russells'  Esq.  deceased  and 
now  the  proj)erty  of  the  Subscriber  and  of  Sarah  Russell  a  minor, 
as  follows  beginning  at  a  point  154  feet  east  [157]  of  the  east- 
erly side  of  Arch  Street  —  thence  running  South  westerly  to  land 
of  the  heirs  of  John  Rowe  Esq  260  feet,  and  being  thirty  five  feet 
wide  —  thence  four  feet  Northeasterly  on  said  Rowes  Land  — 
then  Southwesterly  on  said  Rowes  brick  house  to  Pond  Street  said 
Street  to  be  thirty  feet  wide  at  the  North  corner  of  said  brick 
house,  thence  Northeasterly  thirty  five  feet  wide  to  Summer 
Street.  The  Subscriber  engages  that  the  Town  shall  be  at  no 
expence  for  the  land  so  laid  out  into  a  Street,  or  for  the  fences 
that  may  be  necessary  to  enclose  it ;  that  he  will  put  the  said 
Street  into  good  order  for  the  convenient  passing  of  carriages, 
and  will  not  expect  any  expence  laid  out  thereon  by  the  Town, 
until  in  the  judgement  of  the  Selectmen,  the  interest  of  the  town 
or  the  claims  of  persons  resident  there,  shall  make  it  necessary 
that  the  same  shall  become  a  Town  charge" 

signed    John  L  Sullivan 

Therefore  be  it  Known,  that  on  the  thirteenth  day  of  May  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  Eighteen  hundred.  The  Selectmen,  hav- 
ing considered  the  premises,  do  hereby  lay  out  the  aforedescribed 


Boston  Town  Records,  1800.  91 

piece  of  land  ai3  a  public  Street  or  Town  way  and  it  is  accordingly 
appropriated  as  a  Street  or  way  for  the  said  Town  forever  by  the 
name  of  Plymouth  Street  subject  to  the  approbation  and  acceptance 
of  the  Town 

Charles  Bulfinch  ^ 
David  Tilden 
Joseph  Howard 
W"  Porter 
W"  Sherburne 
John  Tilestou 
Ebenr,  Oliver 
Russell  Sturo;is 


}i 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  legally 
warned  and  assembled  May  13,  1800. — The  above  described 
Street  was  accepted  as  a  public  Street 

Att  William  Cooper  Town  Clerk 

[158.]  The  warrant  at  the  request  of  the  School  Committee 
relative  to  the  expediency  of  establishing  a  new  School,  was  read 
and  a  further  consideration  of  this  request  is  to  subside 

The  petition  of  a  number  of  Blacks  was  read  and  after  debate, 
they  had  leave  to  withdraw  their  petition. 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday  21  May  inst  10  °Clock  AM. — 

Wednesday  May  21.  1800,  The  Town  met  according  to  adjourn- 
ment 

The  Committee  appointed  to  audit  the  Town  Treasurers 
Accounts  have  attended  that  service  and  report,  that  they  find 

the  Selectmen's  drafts  amounts  to 37230.82 

Overseer  drafts 1549.90 

Board  of  Health  drafts 5039.  4 


X53819.76 
Committee  for  Building  Almshouse  A/C      18500 


$72319.76 


Your  Committee  found  his  accounts  well  vouched  &  right  cast 
and  there  was  due  to  the  Town  the  30"^  Ult°.  by  the  books  after 

all  the  drafts  are  paid 27450.36.3 

From  which  must  be  deducted 
Towns  powder         .     .     _     .     1041.94.5 
Acc°.  Interest  paid      -     -     -     4480.71.1 
Abatem*.  "99  Tax  suppose    -     5000. 
Collectors  Commissions    -     -     4000.30.4 

14523. 


leaves  a  balance  of  -     -     -     -  .  $12927.36.3 


92  City  Documeist  No.  115. 

There  is  due  to  the  Town  from  Collectors  on  '99  Tax 

Benjamin  Jepson 13645.43 

Benjamin  Henderson 10267. 

Thomas  Bayley 18539.93 

James  Thompson 14139.89 


56592.25 


[159.]     And  there  is  due  from  the  Town 

To  the  Union  Banks 20,500 

To  several  persons  p''  Notes    -     -     -  7962  ..  13 


28462  ..  13  ..3 


Your  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  same  sums  as  above  will 
be  necessary  to  pay  the  Selectmen's  Overseers  &  board  of 
healths  drafts  for  the  year  ensuing  which  amounts  to 

53819  .  76 
Also   one   years   interest  on  the  28962  ..  13  ..  3  —  1710  .  24 


55530  . 


And  they  recommend  a  tax  to  be  laid  for     60,000  . — . 


Annexed  to  the  Treasurers  general  accounts  a  trial  balance  of 
his  books  —  also  the  Board  of  Healths  account  —  all  which  is 
respectfully  submitted. 

Herman  Brimmer 


Joseph  Russell 
Samuel  Brown  )  I 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  and  considered  by  the 
Town,  the  same  was  accepted,  whereupon. 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  Sixty  thousand  dollars  be  raised  by  a 
tax  to  be  assessed  on  the  Polls,  and  estates  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
the  Town  to  defray  the  expences  of  the  current  year. 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  Six  hundred  &  sixty  six  dollars  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  Samuel  Clap  Esquire  for  his  services  as 
Town  Treasurer  the  present  year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him 
quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  on  the  first  of 
last  March 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  Six  hundred  &  sixty  six  dollars  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  William  Cooper  Esq.  for  his  services  as 
Town  Clerk  the  present  year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly 
as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  on  the  first  of  March 
last. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1800.  93 

Voted,  That  the  sum  of  Four  hundred  &  thirty  three  dollars  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  each  of  the  Assessors  for  their  respective 
services  the  present  year,  the  same  to  be  paid  them  quarterly,  as 
it  shall  become  due  and  to  commence  the  first  of  March  last. 

[160.]  Voted  that  the  further  sum  of  One  hundred  dollars 
be  allowed  and  paid  the  assessors  respectively  in  the  manner 
aforesaid,  in  consideration  of  the  rise  of  Provisions 

Voted  that  the  Town  Treasui'er  be  authorized  and  empowered 
to  borrow  on  lawful  interest  for  the  use  of  the  Board  of  Health  as 
there  may  be  occasion  a  sum  not  exceeding  Four  thousand 
dollars 

On  motion.  Voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  the  Board  of  Health  for  their  eminent  service  in  the 
discharge  of  the  duties  of  their  Office  the  last  year. 

The  votes  were  brought  in  for  one  assessor  in  the  room  of  Mr. 
Blanchard  lately  deceased  —  there  being  no  choice  the  afternoon 
was  assigned  for  that  purpose 

On  motion  Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  town  be  given  to  the 
jjQjjbie.  xhomas  Dawes  Esq.  for  his  good  services  as  moderator 

Adjourned  to  3  Clock  P  M 

At  Three  Clock  PM  the  Town  met  according  to  adjournment, 
Col°.  Dawes  the  moderator,  being  necessarily  absent  on  public 
business 

David  Tilden  Esq. 
was  chosen  moderator  by  a  hand  Vote. 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  &  bring  in  their  votes 
for  an  assessor,  and  the  same  being  brought  and  counted  it 
appeared  that  the  whole  number  was  708,  and  that 

Mr.  Jedidiah  Parker 
was  chosen  an  assessor  for  the  year  ensuing     -     -     -     469  votes 

Voted  that  all  matters  and  things  which  remain  unfinished  be 
referred  over  to  the  next  General  Town  meeting  that  shall  be 
called. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[161.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public 
town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Friday  the  fourth  day 
of  July  Anno  Domini  1800 


9-1  City  Document  No.  115. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting     -     -     Read 
William  Cooper,  chosen  Moderator 

The  Committee  appointed  last  year  to  make  choice  of  a  Gentle- 
man to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  Independence, 
Reported,  That  they  had  made  choice  of  Joseph  Hall  Esq.  who 
has  accepted  the  appointment, 

On  motion,  adjourned  to  Old  south  Church,  when  agreeable  to 
the  information  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Selectmen 

AN  ORATION 

To  commemorate  the   Independence  of   the  United   States  was 
delivered  by  Joseph  Hall  Esq.  at  the  Old  South  Church 

On  motion  voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on 
Joseph  Hall  Esq.  and  in  the  name  of  the  Town  to  thank  him  for 
the  elegant  and  spirited  Oration  this  day  delivered  by  him  at  the 
request  of  the  Town  upon  the  Anniversary  of  the  Independence 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  which  according  to  the 
institution  of  the  Town  he  considered  the  feelings  manners  & 
principles  which  led  to  that  great  national  event.  — 

On  motion  voted  that  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  be  and  hereby 
are  appointed  a  Committee  to  apply  to  some  one  able  and 
learned  Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  fourth  day  of 
July  AD  1801,  that  day  being  the  Anniversary  of  the  Indepen- 
dence of  the  United  States  of  America  wherein  the  Orator  is  to 
consider  the  feelings  manners  and  [163]  principles  which  led  to 
this  great  national  event ;  as  well  as  the  important  and  happy 
effects  whether  general  or  domestic  which  have  already  or  will 
forever  flow  from  that  auspicious  epoch. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town 
meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  27  Aug*.  AD 
1800,  10  oClock  —  AM— 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting     -     -     Read 

Hon^'®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 
chosen  Moderator  of  the  meeting. 

The  article  in  the  warrant  relative  to  the  right  of  the  town  in 
the  Old  State  House  read  &  considered  whereupon  Voted  that 
Joseph   Russell   Esq.    and   John   Lowell   Jun  Esq   be  and  they 


Boston  Town  Records,  1800.  95 

hereby  are  appointed  Agents  and  Attornies  in  behalf  of  the  town 
to  appear  at  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  now  sitting  in  this  town, 
and  defend  in  the  name  of  and  hehalf  of  the  town  against  a  peti- 
tion for  partition  of  Old  State  house  in  Boston  filed  by  the 
Attorney  General  in  behalf  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  upon  which 
Persons  who  were  interested  were  directed  to  appear  at  the  pres- 
ent term  And  the  said  Agents  and  each  of  them  are  hereby 
authorized  to  appear  in  said  cause  and  to  represent  the  Town  and 
to  do  every  needful  relative  thereto  until  a  final  determination  of 
the  same. 

[163.]  The  article  in  the  warrant  viz  "to  consider  the 
expediency  of  enlarging  the  South  burying  ground"'  was  read  — 
whereupon  voted  that  the  consideration  of  this  matter  be  referred 
over  to  the  next  general  town  meeting. 

Then  this  meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public 
town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  the  third  day  of 
November  Anno  Domini  1800  — 10  "Clock  A.  M.  — 

Prayer  was  made  by  Rev*^.  Joseph  Eckley  D.  D. 

Warrant  for  caUing  the  meeting     -     -     Read 

Paragraph  of  a  Resolve  of  the  General  Court  for  the  choice  of 
one  Representative  for  the  first  middle  district  of  this  Common- 
wealth in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  read 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  the  Poll  would  be 
closed  at  half  past  1  oClock 

Persons  voted  for  as  a  Representative  of  the  first  middle  dis- 
trict of  this  Commonwealth  in  the  next  Congress  of  the  United 
States  Viz. 

William  Eustis  Esq -     -     -     1819 

Josiah  Quincy  Esq        -     .     ^ 1959 

Oliver  Everett  Esq 2 

An  attested  Copy  of  the  persons  voted  for  as  above  was  sealed 
up  in  Town  meeting  after  a  declaration  had  been  made  by  the 
Selectmen  of  the  Persons  voted  for  as  a  Representative  of  the  first 
middle  district  of  this  Commonwealth  in  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  —  and  the  same  was  put  into  the  hands  of  the 
Secretary  of  this  Commonwealth  [164:]  subscribed  as  follows  Viz 

for  John  Avery  Esq. 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


96  City  Document  No.  115. 

1801. 

[165.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
public  town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  hall  on  Monday  the 
ninth  day  of  March  Anno  Domini  1801.  nine  oClock  AM  — 

Prayer  was  made  by  Rev*^.  Thomas  Baldwin 

Warrant  for  calhng  a  meeting     -     -     Read. 

Sundry  laws  to  be  read  at  this  meeting  were  accordingly    Read 

Hon^^®.    Thomas   Dawes  Esq. 
was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  vote 

The  inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
votes  for  a  Town  Clerk,  and  the  same  ha\ing  been  brought 
in  and  counted  it  appeared  that 

William  Cooper 
was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  year  ensuing,  and  the  Oath  of 
Office  administered  by  Mr.  -Justice  Sherburne 

The  inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
votes  for  nine  Selectmen,  the  same  being  brought  in  and  sorted 
it  appeared  that  only  eight  were  chosen  viz 

Charles  Bulfinch  Esq 
David  Tilden  Esq 
Russell  Sturgis  Esq 
Cap\  Joseph  Howard 
-William  Porter 
William  Sherburne  Esq 
Mr.  John  Tileston 
Mr.  Ebenezer  Oliver 

The  votes  having  been  brought  in  for  the  one  wanting  it  ap- 
peared that  Mr.  Jonathan  Hunnewell  was  chosen  a  Selectman  in 
the  room  of  Mr.  Hancock 

[166.]  On  motion  voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be 
and  hereby  are  given  unto  Ebenezer  Hancock  Esq  for  his  good 
services  as  a  Selectman  a  number  of  years  past 

Votes  for  a  Treasurer  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  were  brought 
in  and  counted  by  the  Moderator  and  Town  Clerk  when  it  ap- 
peared that  the  whole  number  was  285,  all  of  which  were  for 
Ebenezer  Seaver  Esq  a  discreet  suitable  person,  and  a  Freeholder 
and  Resident  in  said  County. 

Votes  for  a  Register  of  deeds  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  were 
brought  in  and  counted  by  the  Moderator  and  Town  Clerk  when 
it  appeared  that  the  whole  number  was  223,  all  of  which  were  for 
WilUam  Alline  Esq  a  discreet  suitable  person  and  a  Freeholder 
and  Resident  in  said  County. — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1801.  9T 

Samuel  Clap  Esq  was  chosen  Town  Treasurer  for  the  ensuing 
year. 

Voted  that  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  twelve  persons  shall  be 
appointed,  chosen  as  a  School  Committee  and  the  votes  being 
brought  in  and  sorted  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen 
were  chosen  viz 

jjQjjbie  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 

Rev*^  Samuel  West  D.D. 
v^  Dr.  Thomas  Welch 

Rev"^.  Joseph  Eckley  DD 

Rev*i.  J.  T.  Kirkland 

Dr.  Aaron  Dexter 

Mr.  William  Smith 

Mr.  Arnold  Wells  Jun. 

Edward  Gray  Esq. 

David  Greene  Esq 

Josiah  Quincy  Esq 

Rev*^.  William  Emmerson 

Voted  that  the  above  named  Gentlemen  who  conjunctly  with 
the  Selectmen  are  termed  the  School  committee,  be  and  hereby 
are  directed  to  carry  the  new  system  of  Education,  which  has 
been  adopted  by  the  Town  into  operation,  and  said  Comnaittee 
[167]  are  also  authorized  and  empowered  conjunctly  to  manage 
&  regulate  the  officers  &  government  of  the  schools,  and  in  future 
to  exercise  all  the  power  relating  to  the  Schools  and  Schoolmasters, 
which  the  Selectmen  or  such  Committees  were  authorized  by  the 
laws  of  this  Commonwealth  or  the  votes  of  the  Town  to  exer- 
cise, any  former  vote  of  the  town  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

The  inhabitants  brought  in  their  votes  for  24  Fire  wards,  when 
it  appeared  that 

Thomas  Melvill    "j 
Edward  Edes 
Amasa  Davis 
Samuel  Parkman  i  ^p 
Russell  Sturgis      '       ^ 
Henry  Jackson 
William  Scollay 
Joseph  May 
Cap*.  Robert  Gardner 
John  May  ^ 

William  Brown      >-  Esquires 
Nattf.  Fellows      J 
Samuel  Bradford 
Mr.  Joseph  Head 
Thomas  H.  Perkins  Esq. 
John  Winslow  Esq. 
Cap*.  Joseph  Howard 
Mr.  Benjamin  Joy 


98  City  Document  No.  115. 

Stephen  Codman  Esq. 
Andrew  Cunningham  Esq. 
Mr.  John  Bray 
Mr.  Thomas  Dennie 
Gen^  Simon  Elliot 
Mr.  Gorham  Parsons 
were  chosen  Fire  wards  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Adjourned  to  3  oClock  P.M. 

At  three  oClock  P  M  the  Inhabitants  accordingly  met,  &  were 
directed  to  bring  in  their  votes  for  a  town  advocate  for  the 
municipal  Court,  and  the  same  having  been  brought  in  it 
appeared  that  John  PhilUps  Esq.  was  chosen. 

[168.]  Voted  that  the  assessors  be  and  hereby  are  directed 
to  sit  for  such  assessments  of  taxes,  as  they  shall  judge  reason- 
able, two  days  in  such  weeks  after  the  delivery  of  the  tax  books 
to  the  collectors  for  the  space  of  six  weeks  and  no  longer,  saving 
they  be  allowed  to  set  the  last  week  in  February  Lords  days 
excepted  for  the  abatement  of  the  taxes  of  such  persons  as  had 
not  an  opportunity  of  applying  in  the  above  limited  time  by 
reason  of  their  being  out  of  the  Commonwealth  or  any  other 
unavoidable  hindrance,  and  that  the  assessors  determine  on  the 
said  two  days  which  is  to  be  noted  on  the  tax  bills  to  be  delivered 
to  the  inhabitants 

Voted  that  Five  percent  be  and  hereby  are  allowed  to  the 
collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  year  ensuing  for  all  such  sums  of 
money  and  public  securities  as  they  shall  collect  and  pay  in  [to] 
the  several  treasurers  of  the  sums  committed  to  them  to  collect 
also  that  such  collectors  shall  give  bond  with  sufficient  sureties  to 
the  satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen  for  the  faithful  discharge  of 
their  duty  in  said  office  and  complying  with  this  vote  and  that 
they  will  not  receive  any  premium  or  gratuity  for  discounting  any 
Orders  and  notes  or  receipts  from  the  Treasurer  of  this  State  or 
the  Treasurer  of  this  town. 

The  votes  being  brought  in  for  twelve  Overseers  of  the  poor  it 
appeared  that 

Edward  Proctor 

John  Sweetser 

Jon*^.  L.  Austin, 

Mr.  Edward  Edes 

Henry  Hill 

William  Smith 

William  Phillips 

Stephen  Gorham, 

Mr.  Oliver  Brewster 

Arnold  Welles  Jun  Esq 

Dr  Red  ford  Webster 

Thomas  Perkins  Esq. 
were  chosen  Overseers  of  the  poor  for  the  year  ensuing 


>  Esquires 


Boston  Town  Eecords,  1801.  99 

The  votes   being   brought  in   for  four  collectors  of   taxes   it 
appeared  that 

Messrs.  Benjamin  Henderson 
Thomas  Bayley 
Benjamin  Jepson 
Christopher  Marshall 
[169.]  were  chosen  Collectors  of  Taxes  for  the  year  ensuing 

The  votes  being  brought  in  for  five  assessors  and  counted  and 
sorted  it  appeared  that 

Messrs.  John  K.  Sigourney 
Ebenezer  Seaver 
John  Hurd 

Benjamin  Hammatt  Jun 
Jedediah  Parker 
were  chosen  assessors  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Shubael  Hewes 
Jirah  Holbrook 
Samuel  Gridley 
Amos  Lewis 
Enoch  May 
Abraham  Tuckerman 
Samuel  White 
Andrew  Townsend 
Noah  Butts 
Thomas  Stevenson 
John  Bosson 
Willard  Lane 
were  chosen  Constables  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Benjamin  White 
Moses  Ayers 
Daniel  Ingersol 
WilUam  Darricot 
.were  chosen  Fence  viewers  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Barney  Connor 
William  Wheeler 
were  chosen  Hogreeves  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Barney  Conner 
William  Wheeler 
were  chosen  Haywards  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Jeffry  Richardson 
Isaac  P  Davis 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Hemp  for  the  year  ensuing. 

[1  70.]  Edward  Tuckerman  Esq. 

Mr.  Edward  Edes 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Wheat  for  the  year  ensuing. 


100  City  Document  No.  115. 

Messrs.  John  "Wells 

William  Cooper  Hunneman 
were  chosen  Assay  masters  for  the  year  ensuing. 

The  Selectmen 
were  chosen  surveyors  of  high  ways  for  the  year  ensiling 

Messrs.  Roger  Bartlett 

Jonathan  Cushing 
were  chosen  cullers  of  dry  fish  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Mr.  Edward  Rumley 
was  chosen  Inspector  of  Stone  Lime  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Henry  Purket 

Lemuel  Gardner 
Thomas  Barber 
James  Eason 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Hoops  &  Staves  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Votes  for  twelve  Surveyors  of  Boards  &  Shingles,  brought  in 
when  it  appeared  that 

Messrs.  Joshua  Bentley 

Benjamin  White 

Benjamin  Page 

James  Blake 

John  Cogswell 

Edmund  Ranger 

William  Clouston 

William  Darricott 

William  Ellison 

James  Robbins 

William  Andrews 

Daniel  Ingersol 
were  chosen  Surveyors   of  boards   &  Shingles   for  the  ensuing- 
year 

• 

Voted  that  Hon''^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 
Joseph  Russell  Esq. 
Samuel  Brown  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  audit  the  accounts 
[171]  of   the  Town  Treasurer,  and   also  the  accounts  of  the 
Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the  poor  and  board  of  health,  and  said 
committee  are  also  directed  to  report  the  sum  necessary  to  be 
raised  for  the  services  of  the  present  year. 

The  article  in  the  warrant,  to  wit  "  To  consider  the  expediency 
of  a  revision  and  new  edition  of  the  By  Laws  "  was  read  where- 
upon Voted  that 

the  Hon*^^^.  George  Richards  Minot 
John  Phillips 
James  Prince 
be  a  committee  to  take  up  this  article  and  report  at  May  meeting. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1801.  101 

The  petition  of  James  Pratt  praying  liberty  to  erect  a  Fish  stall 
on  the  Mill  Creek  was  read. 

Whereupon  Voted  that  the  consideration  of  this  petition  be 
referred  to  the  Board  of  Health  who  are  desired  to  make  report 
thereon  at  the  Adjournment. 

The  Report  of  the  Selectmen  relative  to  the  improvement  and 
disposal  of  the  lands  on  the  Neck  was  read  and  the  further  con- 
sideration of  this  important  matter  was  referred  to  the  May 
meeting ;  and  the  said  report  to  be  printed  in  the  pubUc  news- 
papers for  the  information  and  consideration  of  the  Inhabitants 

And  this  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  Wednesday  the 
eighteenth  day  of  March  inst  at  10  oClock  A  M — 

The  Inhabitants  met  on  Wednesday  IS^'^.  March  according  to 
adjournment 

Arnold  Wells  Jun.  Esq  having  declined  serving  any  longer  as 
an  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  On  motion  voted  unanimously  that  the 
thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  unto  Arnold  Welles  J'^'.  Esq.  for 
his  good  services  as  an  overseer  of  the  poor  a  number  of  years 

past. 

The  choice  of  an  Overseer  was  referred  to  May  Meeting 

[173.]  The  committee  on  James  Pratts  petition  for  a  fish 
stall  not  having  reported  it  was  left  to  said  Committee  who  are 
the  board  of  health  to  act  thereon  as  they  shall  judge  best. 

The  votes  for  a  Constable  in  the  room  of  Mr.  Bosson  who 
declines  serving  being  brought  in  it  appeared  that  Mr.  William 
Crosby  was  chosen  Constable  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Voted  that  all  matters  which  shall  remain  unfinished  at  this 
meeting  be  referred  over  to  May  meeting 

Voted  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to 
the  Hon''^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq  the  Moderator  of  this  meeting  for 
his  good  services  in  the  dispatch  given  the  business  which  came 
before  them 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


[173.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  town 
of  Boston  of  twenty  one  years  of  age  and  upwards  qualified  as 
the  constitution  prescribes  and  legally  warned  in  public  town 
meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  6'^.  day  of 
April  Anno  Domini  1801,  nine  oClock  AM.  — 


102  City  Document  No.  115. 

Prayer  by  Rev*^.  Mr.  Freeman 
Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting     Read 

Paragraph  of  the  Constitution  or  frame  of  government,  relative 
to  the  choice  of  Governor  L*.  Governor  and  Senators         Read. 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  vote  would  be 

received  but  such  as  were  unfolded,  and  that  they  propose  the 

poll  should  be  closed  at  half  past  one  oClock  the  votes  to  be 

'  received  at  the  table  and  the  bells  to  begin  tolling  at  ^  past  one 

oClock  and  to  continue  for  half  an  hour. 

Persons  voted  for  as  Governor  with  the  number  of  votes  for 
each  person  —  Viz 

Votes 

His  Excellency  Caleb  Strong  Esq. 1851 

Honorable  Elbridge  Gerry  Esq. 2078 

Persons  voted  for  as  Lieu*.  Governor  with  the  number  of  votes 
for  each  person  viz 

Hon^'«.  William  Heath  Esq. 2062 

Hon^i^  Samuel  Phillips  Esq.  -     - 1841 

Honi'ie.  Edw*^.  H.  Robbins  Esq. 14 

Persons  voted  for  as  Senators   for  the  County  of  Suffolk  with 

the  number  of  votes  for  each  person  viz. 

Hon^i^  Oliver  Wendell  Esq.  3643 

Hon^i«.  John  C.  Jones  Esq  1759 

Hon^i^  William  Tudor  Esq  3071 

Hon^i^  James  Bowdoin  Esq  2069 

Hon^i^  John  Codman  Esq.  1738 

Hon^^®.  Benjamin  Austin  Esq.  102 

[174.]  Charles  Jarvis  Esq. 92 

Jonathan  Loring  Esq. 2069 

Hon^^®.  Harrison  Gray  Otis  Esq.      -----  1 

Mr.  Samuel  Norton 1 

Cap*.  James  Prince 78 

George  Blake  Esq. 1 

Attested  copies  of  the  persons  voted  for  as  Governor,  Lieu*. 
Governor  and  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  were  committed 
by  the  Town  Clerk  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  and  the 
enclosures  sealed  up  in  town  meeting,  [and  superscribed]  as  fol- 
lows viz*. 

For  John  Avery  Esq. 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts.  ■ 

The  number  of  votes  of  the  town  of  Boston  for  a  Governor 
Lieu*.  Governor  &  four  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  certi- 
fied within  and  sealed  up  in  Town  meeting. 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1801.  103 

[175.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public 
town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the 
thirteenth  day  of  May  Anno  Domini  1801,  10  "Clock  AM  — 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Rev*^.  Mr.  Emmerson 

"Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting  Read 

That  part  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government  which 
relates  to  the  choice  of  Representatives     -     -     Read 

The  law  relative  to  mourning  and,  extracts  from  several  laws  to 
be  read  in  town  meeting  were  accordingly     -     -     Read 

The  town  having  determined  by  a  vote  to  choose  seven  persons 
to  represent  them  in  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  to  be 
holden  in  the  State  house  in  Boston  on  the  last  Wednesday  in 
May  current  agreeable  to  the  constitution  or  frame  of  Govern- 
ment for  Massachusetts ;  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  by  the 
Selectmen  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their  votes  for  seven 
Representatives  and  then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that 
no  votes  would  be  received  but  such  as  are  unfolded,  and  that 
they  propose  the  Poll  shall  be  closed  at  ^  past  One  oClock.  the 
assessors  to  attend  at  the  delivery  of  the  votes,  and  the  bell  to 
begin  tolling  at  1  oClock,  and  to  continue  tolling  untill  half  an 
hour  is  expired. 

The  votes  being  brought  in  for  seven  Representatives,  the 
whole  number  of  the  same  were  found  to  be  2745,  and  upon 
sorting  them  it  appeared  that  the  following  seven  Gentlemen  had 
obtained  a  majority  of  the  Votes  viz 

Charles  Jarvis  Esq. 1474 

David  Tilden  Esq. -     -     1467 

Benjamin  Austin  Jun.  Esq                                             1456 

Nath'.  Fellowes  Esq  1460 

George  Blake  Esq.  1467 

Cap*.  James  Prince  1455 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq.  1469 

The  votes  given  for  such  as  did  not  obtain  were  for 

Hon^"'^  John  C.  Jones  Esq     -     - 1281 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 1272 

Sam^  Parkman  Esq. 1277 

[176.]    William  Smith  Esq. 1276 

Samuel  Cobb  Esq. 1267 

Mr.  Jonathan  Hunnewell -     -     -  1253 

John  Phillips  Esq 1269 

Josiah  Quincy  Esq. 21 

besides,  a  few  scattering  votes 


104  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen.  The  Hon^'^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  was  chosen  Mod- 
erator of  this  meeting  by  a  hand  vote  that  the  town  might  pro- 
ceed in  transacting  the  other  business  mentioned  in  the  warrant 

Adjourned  to  Four  oClock  P  M. 

At  Four  oClock  P  M  the  inhabitants  met  according  to  adjourn- 
ment — 

The  votes  being  brought  in  for  one  Overseer  of  the  poor  in  the 
room  of  Arnold  Welles  Esq  who  had  resigned,  and  received  a 
vote  of  thanks  for  his  good  services  while  in  that  office  it  appeared 
that  Stephen  Codman  Esq.  was  chosen  an  overseer  of  the  poor 
for  the  year  ensuing. 

The  petition  of  a  number  of  inhabitants  for  widening  the  Street 
from  Common  Street  to  the  new  State  house  was  read,  and  after 
large  debate 

Voted  that  said  petition  be  referred  for  further  consideration 
to  the  adjournment  of  this  meeting,  and  that  the  Selectmen  be 
requested  that  previous  to  said  adjournment  they  view  the  same, 
consider  the  expence  that  will  attend  the  proposed  alteration  of 
the  Street  and  report  their  opinion  on  the  Subject 

The  article  in  the  warrant  viz  "  To  act  upon  the  report  of  the 
Selectmen  respecting  the  improvement  and  disposal  of  the  Towns 
land  on  the  neck "  read,  whereupon  Voted  that  this  matter  be 
referred  for  the  further  consideration  of  the  Selectmen,  and  that 
the  following  Gentlemen  be  added  to  that  Committee  Viz 

the  HonP'^.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 

George  R  Minot  Esq 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 

Thomas  Edwards  Esq 
[177.]  Benjamin  Austin  Jun  Esq 

Mr.  Elisha  Sigourney 

Samuel  Brown  Esq 
and  they  are  requested  to  consider  this  matter  at  large  and  report 
thereon  at  the  adjournment. 

The  petition  relative  to  a  new  street  near  Beacon  Hill,  was 
read  whereupon,  Voted  that  this  matter  be  referred  to  the 
Gentlemen  Selectmen  to  report  thereon 

Messrs.  Tilden  Fellowes  &  Sturgis  letters  purporting  their 
resignation  as  representatives  received  and  read  to  the  Inhabi- 
tants. 

The  committee  relative  to  Town  By-laws  reported  a  number  of 
By  laws,  and  the  further  consideration  of  the  same  was  referred 
to  the  adjournment 


BosTox  Town  Records,  1801.  105 

Then  the  town  meeting  was  (relative  to  Representatives)  ad- 
journed to  Friday  next  being  the  15  inst  10  °Clock  A  M.  And 
the  May  meeting  to  Friday  next  at  1  °Clock  being  the  15  instant. 

On  Friday  10  °Cloek  AM  the  Town  met  according  to  adjourn- 
merrt,  The  Selectmen  presided. 

The  letters  of  Messrs.  Tilden  Sturgls  and  Fellowes  purporting 
their  resignation  as  Representatives  as  also  their  joint  letter  pur- 
porting their  acceptance  of  that  trust  were  read  and  after  debate 
thereon  Joseph  Russell  Esq.  moved  and  was  seconded  by  Dr. 
Jarvis  that  this  meeting  be  dissolved,  and  the  question  being 
accordingly  put  passed  in  the  affirmative  almost  unanimously  and 
the  meeting  was  then  dissolved. 

On  Friday  May  15,  1801  at  one  oClock  PM  the  Town  met 

Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  in  the  seat 

The  Board  of  Health  a  Committee  on  Mr.  Pratts  Petition  rela- 
tive to  a  Fish  Stall  over  Mill  Creek,  reported,  and  their  report 
was  referred  over  for  consideration  to  the  adjournment  of  this 
meeting 

[118.]  Adjourned  to  Friday  next  being  the  22^^.  instant  at 
eleven  oclock  A  M. 

Friday  May  22  the  Town  met  according  to  adjournment 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  petition  of  James  Pratt 
read  and  accepted 

The  report  of  the  Committee  relative  to  widening  Centre  Street, 
read  :  and  after  some  debate  the  question  was  put  viz  ' '  Whether 
said  report  shall  be  accepted"  which  passed  in  the  affirmative. 

The  report  of  the  joint  Committee  relative  to  the  lands  on  the 
Neck  with  respect  to  their  improvement  and  disposal,  was  read 
and  considered,  and  the  question  being  put  viz  whether  the  same 
shall  be  accepted  —  it  passed  in  the  affirmative  and  on  motion 
Voted  that  12  °Clock  be  the  time  appointed  to  come  to  the  choice 
of  six  Agents  agreeable  to  the  report  of  said  Committee,  —  the 
time  arriving  and  the  votes  having  been  brought  in  and  counted 
it  appeared  that 

The  Hon'^ie.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 

George  Richard  Minot  Esq 

John  Winslow  Esq 

William  Tudor  Esq 

Deacon  William  Brown 

Mr.  Josiah  Knapp 
were  the  persons  added  to  the  Selectmen  who  conjunctly  are  to 
lease  and  manage  said  lands  in  such  a  manner  as  shall  appear  to 
them  for  the  interest  of  the  Town 


106  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  petition  for  a  new  Street 
near  Beacon  Hill  was  read  and  accepted 

The  petition  of  Mr.  Edward  Howe  that  a  deed  may  be  given 
him  &c  was  read,  and  on  motion  the  petitioner  has  leave  to  with- 
draw his  petition. 

The  committee  on  Town  Treasurers  accompts  &c  Report 

The  selectmens  drafts  amount  to       -     -     -     -    41,257.99 

Overseers  of  the  poor -  '  15499.74: 

Board  of  Health 4731.52 

Total  from  May  1800  to  May  1801—  61489.25 

The  Treasurer  charges  money  paid  S  Brown  for  |  i  'oo 

new  Almshouse J 

Counterfits  Receivd  for  Taxes     ------  20. 

[179.]     Amount  of  abatements  on  Assessors  certifi- 
cates       -     .     .  3224.73 

Ditto  for  ditto  James  Thompsons  Estate  -     -     -     -  559.50 

Amount  of  Andrew  Tukesburys  account       -     -     -     -  228.91 

Interest  paid  from  December  1795  to  March  1801      -  6099.23 

New  account  for  ballance -  21601.90 

94723.57 

The  Treasurer  gives  credit  by  balance  of  old  a/c  -     -  27450.36 

By  cash  received  for  States  poor 4610.73 

By  cash  of  Hopestill  Foster  for  hay  engine  paym*.     -  143.13 

By  cash  of  William  Gooch  for  Market  4  paym*^    -     -  235.10 

By  Samuel  Hastings 5. 

By  G  R  Minot 1 . 

By  Charles  Bulfinch 110. 

By  error  in  July  draft 1.50 

By  O  Ballard -     -  11.50 

By  A  Tukesbury  three  years  Rent 500. 

ByTWFolsom 169. 

By  amount  of  Rents 1487.25 

By  amount  of  Tax     -     -     -     - 60000. 

94723.57 

The  Treasurer  also  exhibits  a  trial  Balance 

and  charges  Powder     1041.94.5  C^  Notes  pay^i«      29962.15.3 

Andrew  Tukesbury  290.25  Estate  of  John  Gray  107. 

Benj^.  Henderson         10010.77  Board  Healths  draft     733.53 

Thomas  Bayley  17763.59  Town  of  Boston        21600.90 

Benj'^Jepson  21966.73  Overseers  drafts        1442.35 

Estate  I  Thompson        1316.78  Selectmens  d°  5217.46 

C  Marshall     2338.78  

13905.29  16244.   7 

59064.35.5  $59064.35.5 


Boston  Town  Kecords,  1801.  107 

Amount   of   Notes    due    from  Town   of   Boston  to  Union  Bank 

22000. 


To  E  Price 

£220.15.4 

B  Barker     -     -     - 

-     463.5 

E  Partridge 

231.12.6 

S  Atkins     -     -     - 

-     300. 

Selectmen  Boston 

369. 

Cloughs  note 

4. 

Estate  of  B  Waldo 

800. 

2388.12.10  equal  to    -     -     -     7962.13 


$29962.13 


The  particulars  of  the  aforegoing  Statement  are  in  the  several 
accounts  annexed  to  which  a  reference  may  he  had,  all  which 
[180]  appears  to  be  well  vouched  and  well  cast.  It  is  pre- 
sumed that  the  hay  engine  and  the  Stalls  outside  the  Market  will 
be  much  more  productive  the  present  year  than  the  last.  And 
that  several  articles  of  charge  will  not  be  called  for  the  coming- 
year  by  the  board  of  Selectmen.  Also  the  expences  of  the  Board 
of  Health  will  be  considerably  less  the  ensuing  year.  The  Com- 
mittee after  taking  many  circumstances  of  the  Town  into  consid- 
eration and  as  connected  with  the  county  of  Suffolk  recommend  a 
tax  to  be  laid  for  Sixty  thousand  dollars.  —  all  which  is 
respectfully  submitted 

Thomas  Dawes  )  ^         ... 
T        1,  T)        n  c  Committee 
Joseph  Russell  J 

The  aforegoing  report  having  been  read  and  considered  the 
same  was  accepted,  whereupon 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  Sixty  thousand  dollars  be  raised  by  a  tax 
to  be  assessed  on  the  Polls  and  Estates  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the 
town  to  defray  the  expences  of  the  current  year. 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  Six  hundred  &  sixty  dollars  be  allowed 
and  paid  unto  Samuel  Clap  Esq.  for  his  services  as  Town  Treas- 
urer the  present  year,  and  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it 
shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  the  first  of  last  March. 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  Six  hundred  &  sixty  six  dollars  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  "William  Cooper  for  his  services  as  Town 
Clerk  the  present  year  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it 
shall  become  due  and  to  commence  the  first  of  March  last. 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  Four  hundred  &  thirty  three  dol- 
lars be  allowed  and  paid  unto  each  of  the  Assessors  for  their 
respective  services  the  present  year,  the  same  to  be  paid  them 
quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due  and  to  commence  the  first  of 
March  last. 


108  City  Document  No.  115. 

Voted  that  the  further  sum  of  One  hundred  dollars  be  allowed 
and  paid  to  each  of  the  Assessors  in  the  manner  aforesaid  in 
consideration  of  the  rise  of  provisions. 

Voted  that  the  Town  treasurer  be  authorized  and  empowered 
to  borrow  on  lawful  interest  for  the  use  of  the  Board  of  Health  as 
there  may  be  occasion  a  sum  not  exceeding  3000  dollars 

[181.]  Voted  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be  authorized  and 
empowered  to  borrow  on  lawful  interest  for  the  use  of  the  Select- 
men as  there  may  be  occasion  a  sum  not  exceeding  two  thousand 
dollars 

On  motion  voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  town  be  and  hereby  are 
given  the  Board  of  Health  for  their  eminent  service  in  the  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  of  their  of39ce  the  last  year. 

Voted  that  in  addition  to  the  former  allowance  of  two  hundred 
dollars  made  the  Town  advocate  John  Phillips  Esq.  for  his  service 
he  be  further  allowed  the  sum  of  One  hundred  dollars. 

Mr.  Howes  Petition  was  read,  and  after  some  debate  a  motion 
obtained  that  he  have  leave  to  withdraw  his  petition. 

The  Selectmen  in  conjunction  with  the  Committee  appointed 
to  take  into  consideration  the  report  of  the  Selectmen  respecting 
the  improvement  and  disposal  of  the  Towns  land  on  the  Neck  " 
take  leave  to  report. 

That  they  have  attended  to  the  business  committed  to  them ; 
that  they  are  forcibly  struck  with  the  importance  and  value 
of  those  lands  and  the  propriety  of  making  an  attempt  to  render 
them  productive 

That  they  are  equally  impressed  with  the  justness  of  the  remark 
made  by  the  Selectmen  with  respect  to  what  has  been  and  what 
may  be  done  respecting  them  ;  and  in  order  to  bring  the  subject 
before  the  town  in  an  intelligent  and  concise  form  they  recom- 
mend that  the  land  be  laid  out  in  streets  and  lots  at  the  discretion 
of  the  Trustees  herein  after  referred  to  as  nearly  as  may  be 
according  to  the  plan  exhibited  by  the  Selectmen 

That  Trustees  be  appointed  to  manage  and  lease  the  said  lands 
in  such  manner  as  shall  appear  to  them  best  for  the  interest  of 
the  town 

That  the  Trustees  be  the  Selectmen  for  the  time  being  and  six 
such  other  persons  as  the  Town  may  choose  to  be  added  to  them 
at  their  annual  meeting  in  May. 

That  until  the  further  or  other  order  of  the  town  the  income  of 
the  leases  of  the  land  be  appropriated  to  the  improvement  of  the 
same. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1801.  109 

That  the  Trustees  be  and  hereby  are  impowered  in  the  name 
and  behalf  of  the  town  to  make  and  execute  Leases  of  the  same 
lands  in  such  portions  or  lots  as  [182]  to  them  shall  appear 
best  for  any  number  of  years  not  exceeding  ninety  nine,  which 
Report  is  respectfully  submitted 

By  order  of  the  joint  Committee 
Cha^.  Bulfinch  Chairman 

A  statement  of  the  Expences  of  the  town  the  last  year  was  laid 
before  the  Inhabitants  by  the  Selectmen  for  their  inspection ;  and 
by  them  ordered  to  be  printed,  more  fully  to  answer  the  purpose 
—  Then  adjourned  to  4  °Clock  P  M. 

The  town  met  agreeably  to  adjournment  at  Four  oClock  P  M. 

The  committee  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency  of  a 
revision  and  new  edition  of  the  By  laws  of  the  town  Report, 
that  in  their  opinion  amendments  in  several  of  the  By  laws  are 
necessary  and  others  of  them  ought  to  be  repeated,  [repealed?] 
that  the  present  edition  contains  several  laws  of  the  Common- 
wealth which  are  repealed,  some  that  are  obsolete  or  not  so  par- 
ticularly applicable  to  this  town  as  to  make  them  useful  in  a' 
selection  for  the  inhabitants ;  and  that  sundry  late  laws  made  by 
the  General  Court  ought  to  be  added  together  with  the  regula- 
tions of  the  Board  of  Health 

That  it  is  expedient  a  new  edition  impi'oved  on  the  aforegoing 
plan  should  be  published ;  and  with  respect  to  the  arrangement 
the  Committee  think  it  would  be  best  to  permit  the  By-laws  in  the 
first  part  of  the  work,  and  the  laws  of  this  Commonwealth  im- 
mediately respecting  the  Town  in  an  appendix ;  the  whole  to  be 
accompanied  with  an  accurate  index. 

They  therefore  report  drafts  of  the  following  Laws  and  recom- 
mend that  all  other  By  laws  of  the  town  now  in  force  be  repealed. 
Viz 

1  a  law  to  prevent  nuisances  in  the  Streets, 

2  a  law  respecting  the  conduct  of  persons  in  the  Streets, 

3  a  law  to  prevent  brick  &  Lime  kilns  &c 

4  a  law  to  prevent  nuisances  in  the  Common 

5  a  law  regulating  Chimnies  &  Sweepers 

6  a  law  regulating  carts  trucks  &  Sleds 

7  a  law  to  regulate  stands  of  Carts  trucks  &  Sleds 

8  a  law  to  regulate  the  driving  of  horses  &  carriages 

9  a  Law  relating  to  Bulls  &  Cows  — 
[183.]      10  a  law  regulating  Funerals 
11a  law  regulating  necessaries 

12  a  law  regulating  pumps  &  wells 

13  a  law  regulating  common  criers 

14  a  law  imposing  restrictions  on  Dogs 

15  a  Law  prohibiting  forestalling  &  engrossing  Provisions 


110  City  Document  No.  115. 

16  a  Law  regulating  the  carrying  of  Manure 

17  a  Law  making  general  regulations 

18  a  Law  respecting   Officers  appointed  by  the    Selectmen;    all 
which  is  respectfully  submitted  by  the  Committee 

George  Richards  Minot  Chairman. 

The  laws  aforementioned  were  read  and  some  amendments 
being  made  they  were  separately  voted  to  be  accepted  as  by  the 
connected  Copies  on  file,  it  was  then  Voted  that  the  Committee 
who  revised  the  aforegoing  Laws  be  desired  to  present  them  to 
the  Court  of  Sessions  for  their  approbation  also 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  cause  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  the  laws  to  be  printed  and  distributed  to  every  House- 
holder and  that  in  the  Arrangement  they  adopt  the  mode  pointed 
out  by  the  Committee 

Voted  that  any  matters  and  things  unfinished  at  this  meeting 
be  referred  over  to  the  next  general  town  meeting  that  shall  be 
called. 

Voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  are  given  to 
the  Hon^^®  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  meeting  for 
his  good  services  in  the  dispatch  given  the  business  which  came 
before  them. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved 


[184.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
public  town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Saturday  the 
4^^  day  of  July  AD  1801  9  oClock  AM. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting  Read. 

William  Cooper  chosen  Moderator 

The  committee  appointed  the  last  year  to  make  choice  of  a 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  Independ- 
ence Reported  that  they  had  made  choice  of  Charles  Paine 
Esq.  who  has  accepted  the  appointmnnt. 

On  motion  adjourned  to  Old  South  Church  when  agreeable  to 
information  of  the  Selectmen,  an 

ORATION 

to  commemorate  the   Independence   of  the  United    States    was 
delivered  by  Charles  Paine  Esq  at  the  Old  South  Church 

On  motion  voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on 
Charles  Paine  Esq  and  in  the  name  of  the  Town  to  thank  him  for 


Boston  Town  Records,  1801.  Ill 

the  elegant  and  spirited  Oration  this  day  delivered  by  him  at  the 
request  of  the  Town  upon  the  Anniversary  of  the  Independence 
of  the  United  States  of  America ;  in  which  according  to  the  insti- 
tution of  the  town  he  considered  the  feelings  manners  &  princi- 
ples which  led  to  that  great  national  event  and  to  request  of 
him  a  copy  thereof  for  the  press 

On  motion  Voted  that  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  be  and  hereby 
are  appointed  a  Committee  to  apply  to  some  one  able  and  learned 
Grentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  fourth  of  July  A  D 
1802,  that  day  being  the  Anniversary  of  the  Independence  of 
the  United  States  of  America  wherein  the  Orator  is  to  consider 
the  feelings  manners  &  principles  which  led  to  this  great  national 
event;  as  well  as  the  important  &  [185]  happy  effects  whether 
general  or  domestic  which  have  already  or  will  forever  flow  from 
that  auspicious  epoch 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public 
town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the  3P' 
day  of  December  Anno  Domini  1801.  ten  oclock  Forenoon  — 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting 

jjQjjUie  Thomas  Dawes  Esq  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  [vote] 
unanimously  — 

That  part  of  the  article  in  the  warrant  viz.  "  To  receive  the 
accounts  of  the  Agents  for  erecting  the  new  almshouse,  and  the 
accounts  of  the  Treasurer  of  monies  borrowed  for  the  same 
House ;  and  to  consider  and  adopt  measures  to  discharge  the 
balance  that  may  be  due,"  was  read,  whereupon 

Voted,  that  Hon^^".  John  C.  Jones  Esq. 
Cap*^.  James  Prince 
Hon'''®.  Benj'^.  Austin  Jun  Esq. 

Samuel  Parkman  Esq. 
Hon^'®.  Thomas  Davis  Esq. 
be  a  committee  to  audit  the  accounts  of  the  Agents  for  building 
the  new  almshouse  to  consider  the  compensation  that  may  be 
proper  to  be  allowed  for  their  time  and  good  services  in  directing 
and  superintending  the  building  —  Also  that  the  said  Committee 
be  directed  to  report  what  in  their  opinion  would  be  the  most  eli- 
gible mode  of  raising  a  suflflcient  sum  to  discharge  the  balance  as 
soon  as  possible. 

The  petition  of  a  number  of   the  Inhabitants  that  the  Town 
would  take  legal  and  efficacious  measures  to  discover  and  remove 


112  City  Document  No.  115. 

vagrants  and  Strangers  of  suspicious  characters  who  have  no 
regular  employment,  and  to  prevent  the  introduction  [186]  of 
such  persons  in  future,  to  come  in  to  some  permanent  regulations 
of  watches  or  patroles  to  preserve  the  Town  from  incendiaries, 
to  adopt  measures  more  effectually  to  guard  against  fires  and 
generally  to  do  what  may  be  thought  necessary  for  the  security  of 
the  town"  was  read,  and  after  some  debate 

Voted  that  Hon''^®.  James  Sullivan 

Hon*^^®.  John  Codman,  Esquires 
Cap*.  James  Prince 
George  Blake  Esq 
jjQj^bie^  Judge  Bourne 
Arnold  Welles  Esq 
Nath^  Fellowes  Esq 

be  a  Committee  to  take  this  matter  into  consideration  and  report 
at  the  adjournment  of  this  meeting 

Then  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  Monday  the  eleventh  day 
of  January  next  10  oClock  F'orenoon. 


1803. 

On  Monday,  eleventh  day  of  January  1802  at  ten  o'clock  Fore- 
noon the  Town  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  committee  relative  to  New  Almshouse  Eeport. 

First,  That  having  caused  the  accounts  of  the  Agents  to  be 
carefully  examined,  they  find  them  well  vouched,  rightly  cast,  and 

Dolls. 

a  balance  due  them  from  the  town  of       -     -     -     _     .    23,533.32 

2*^.  Your  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  Town 
should  allow  the  Agents  for  their  time  &  services  in 
directing  &  superintending  the  buildings  the  sum  of  -        2400 


$25933.32 


This  will  leave  a  balance  due  the  Agent's  \        Dollars 

to  be  provided  for  [of] j       25933.32 

3*^.  Your  committee  recommend  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be 
directed  and  empowered  to  borrow  on  the  credit  of  the  town,  of 
any  corporate  body  or  Individuals  disposed  to  loan  the  same  on 
interest  not  exceeding  that  paid  at  the  Banks  the  sum  of  Twenty 
six  thousand  dollars  for  the  purpose  of  discharging  the  balance 
due  to  the  Agents  and  in  consideration  of  their  services,  and  that 
the  same  with  the  interest  that  may  be  due  together  with  the 
further  sum  of  Twenty  thousand  dollars  already  borrowed  by 
the  [187]  Town  of  the  Union  Bank  to  discharge  the  drafts  of 
the  Agents  and  the  interest  that  has  or  may  accrue  thereon  be 


Boston  Town  Records,  1802.  113 

assessed  on  the  Inhabitants  of  the  town  by  two  yearly  assess- 
ments to  commence  with  the  next  yearly  town  tax  and  to  be 
expressly  applied  to  the  repayment  of  the  monies  so  borrowed, 
said  tax  to  be  separately  mentioned  in  the  tax  bills  by  itself  the 
proceeds  to  be  sacredly  appropriated  to  this  purpose  and  to  be 
paid  over  by  the  Treasurer  to  this  &  no  other  use 

4:^.  The  Committee  having  viewed  the  Almshouse  &  its  append- 
ages conceive  it  to  be  their  duty  to  state  to  the  Town  that  in  their 
opinion  the  Agency  has  been  executed  with  fidelity  and  judgment 
highly  honorable  to  the  Gentlemen  engaged  therein,  and  they 
propose 

That  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the  Hon''^®.  Thomas 
Dawes  Esq  &  Samuel  Brown  Esq  the  surviving  Agents  employed 
in  directing  and  superintending  the  building  of  the  Almshouse ; 
for  the  able  and  masterly  manner  in  which  they  (together  with 
the  late  Hon''^®.  George  Richards  Minot  Esq  also  one  of  the 
Agents  deceased)  have  discharged  the  important  ti'ust  reposed  in 
them  by  their  Fellow  Citizens 

The  above  Report  having  been  read  and  amended  in  meeting 
Voted  that  the  same  be  accepted,  also  Voted  unanimously  that 
the  aforegoing  vote  of  Thanks  be  published  in  the  several  papers 
from  said  Report 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  other  part  of  the  warrant 
was  read,  and  after  large  debate  had  thereon  it  was  moved  and 
Voted  that  said  Report  be  printed  in  hand  bills  and  sent  to  the 
houses  of  the  Inhabitants  for  further  inspection  &  consideration 
—  before  the  adjournment  of  this  meeting  also 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  &  Overseers  of  the  Poor  and  Com- 
mittee that  erected  the  almshouse,  be  requested  to  enquire  and 
report  at  the  adjournment  whether  any  part  of  the  Almshouse 
and  if  any  what  part  can  be  fitted  for  the  use  of  a  workhouse  and 
what  the  expence  of  the  same  will  probably  be  as  well  as  the 
expence  of  providing  an  apparatus  materials  and  implements  to 
employ  People  who  may  be  sent  there,  and  to  report  at  -large  on 
the  subject  of  a  Workhouse  in  that  or  in  any  other  place 

[188.]  This  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  Thursday  21  at 
10  °Clock  AM 

Thursday  Jan^  21  at  10  oclock  AM  met  according  to  adjournment 
The  printed  Report  of  the  Committees  relative  to  fires,  vagrants 
&e  was  read  to  the  Inhabitants 

The  committee  to  enquire  if  any  and  what  part  of  the  new 
almshouse  can  be  fitted  for  the  use  of  a  Workhouse,  Report,  that 
they  have  visited  and  carefully  viewed  the  Almshouse  and  find 


114  City  Document  No.  115, 

three  rooms  distinguished  as  a  Bridewell  and  work  room  for  such 
as  are  committed  as  Vagrants  &.  proper  subjects  of  a  work  house 
and  other  apartments  might  at  present  be  spared  for  this  purpose 
—  those  rooms  are  perfectly  dry  well  warmed  and  ventilated  but 
they  are  not  separate  from  other  parts  of  the  house  nor  suffi- 
ciently strong  to  be  considered  as  places  of  safekeeping  Your 
Committee  are  of  opinion  that  no  division  of  the  Almshouse  can 
be  set  apart  as  a  House  of  correction  without  greatly  incommod- 
ing the  poor  and  incurring  a  heavy  expence  to  render  it  secure 
by  additional  Brick  walls  and  Partitions  iron  gates  and  strong 
doors  to  prevent  the  vicious  and  depraved  from  associating  with 
the  objects  of  charitj^  Your  Committee  would  not  recommend  so 
great  an  alteration  in  the  present  house  as  would  be  necessary 
for  these  purposes  which  would  afford  but  a  temporary  accommo- 
dation for  should  the  number  of  the  Poor  increase  with  the 
natural  increase  of  the  Town,  the  whole  of  the  Almshouse  would 
be  wanted  for  their  use 

In  reporting  at  large  on  the  subject  of  a  House  of  Correction 
as  directed  by  the  latter  part  of  their  commission,  your  Committee 
are  of  opinion  that  an  establishment  of  this  kind  would  be  pro- 
ductive of  the  most  beneficial  effects  to  the  Town 

For  this  purpose  it  will  be  necessary  to  have  a  separate  build- 
ing suitably  constructed  upon  principles  of  strength  and  security 
enclosed  with  proper  walls  and  under  the  direction  of  a  watchful 
Inspector  &  Assistant.  Workrooms,  lodging  rooms  and  solitary 
cells  for  the  confinement  of  the  unruly  should  be  provided  and 
a  constant  supply  of  coarse  articles  of  labour.  From  the  experi- 
ence of  other  places  your  Committee  have  no  doubt  that  such  a 
bouse  would  maintain  itself  after  being  endowed  [189]  with  a 
moderate  Capital  for  the  supply  of  raw  materials  and  the  neces- 
sary stock  in  hand —  the  objects  of  employment  which  occur  to 
the  Committee  are  the  picking  of  Oakum  the  grinding  of  Logwood 
and  other  dye  woods,  the  hammering  of  stone  for  the  under- 
pinning of  houses  and  flagging  of  the  foot  walks  of  Streets, 
grinding  corn  for  the  use  of  the  house  and  any  other  coarse 
mill  work. 

The  Committee  are  so  fully  impressed  with  the  importance  of  such 
an  establishment  in  every  well  regulated  Capital  Town  that  they 
would  immediately  propose  that  measures  should  be  taken  for 
erecting  such  a  building,  were  they  not  sensible  of  the  burden 
that  the  town  now  labour  under  to  discharge  the  balance  due 
upon  the  Almshouse. 

No  correct  estimate  can  be  made  of  the  expence  of  such  a 
building  and  of  the  apparatus  materials  and  implements  to  em- 
ploy those  who  may  be  sent  there,  but  it  is  presumed  that  it 
must  be  twenty  or  thirty  thousand  dollars. 

Your  Committee  would  respectfully  suggest  that  the  attention 
of  the  Legislature  is  now  turned  to  the  subject  of  a  State  Prison 
and  it  is  probable  that  they  will  direct  it  to  be  built  immediately ; 
that  the  building  of  this  Prison  will  deter  persons  of  depraved 
Characters  from  resorting  to  this  town,  and  that  a  number  who 


Boston  Town  Records,  1802.  115 

are  now  in  the  Jail  will  be  removed  thereto  —  The  Committee 
therefore  propose  that  until  the  Town  shall  have  discharged  its 
present  debt,  the  magistrates  and  Overseers  of  the  Poor  shall 
continue  to  make  use  of  this  Jail  and  such  part  of  the  Almshouse 
as  can  be  spared  for  a  workhouse  aud  House  of  correction,  that 
they  be  requested  to  procure  materials  for  work  that  the  persons 
sent  there  may  be,  constantly  employed,  and  to  have  a  few  soli- 
tary cells,  constructed  for  the  confinement  of  the  refractory  & 
unruly 

by  Order  Charles  Bulfinch,  Chairm. 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  &  duly  considered,  was 
accepted  by  the  Town  almost  unanimously. 

The  printed  Report  relative  to  Fires,  Vagrants  &c  was  again 
read,  and  after  debate  had  thereon  the  following  votes  were 
passed  almost  unanimously  viz  : 

Voted  That  there  be  immediately  appointed  by  the  Selectmen, 
one  person  in  each  ward,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  [190] 
and  returning  to  the  Selectmen  weekly  the  names  &  circum- 
stances of  all  persons  within  the  same,  not  being  proper  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  and  who  have  no  visible,  reputable  means  of 
gaining  a  livelihood,  and  are  not  House  holders  within  the  Town, 
and  of  all  such  as  belong  to  other  towns  States  and  Countries, 
having  no  fixed  reputable  manner  of  business. 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the  poor  and  Magistrates 
in  the  town  be  requested  to  be  exact  and  vigilant  in  executing 
the  laws  authorizing  the  removal  of  persons  whose  characters  are 
suspicious,  whose  morals  are  bad,  who  have  no  settled  reputable 
means  for  a  livelihood,  and  who  by  the  laws  are  liable  to  be 
removed  from  the  town  or  State. 

Voted  that  the  overseers  of  the  poor  and  magistrates  be  requested 
to  exert  themselves  to  have  the  laws  for  committing  idle,  vagrant 
persons  to  the  Workhouse,  house  of  correction  or  common  Jail,  as 
the  law  may  direct  carried  into  full  execution  and  in  which  they 
shall  have  every  needed  aid  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town. 

Voted  that  the  Town  adopt  the  method  reported  by  the  Com- 
mittee for  the  appointment  of  watches  and  request  the  Selectmen 
and  magistrates  to  have  the  same  carried  into  execution,  and  that 
the  wages  of  the  Captains  &  Assistants  be  settled  by  the  Select- 
men, and  that  the  Selectmen  be  requested  to  take  effectual  meas- 
ures, by  the  construction  of  the  watch  houses  and  otherwise  that 
the  intentions  of  the  town  be  not  defeated  by  a  want  of  attention 
or  vigilance  in  the  watches 

Voted  that  the  Representatives  of  the  town  be  instructed  to 
obtain  a  revision  of  the  laws  in  regard  to  the  introduction  of  For- 


116  City  Document  No.  115. 

eigners  and  to  have  the  same  so  amended  as  that  they  shall  be 
competent  to  prevent  Foreigners  of  idle  immoral  &  dissolute  char- 
acter from  being  brought  to  the  Tow",  from  other  Countries. 
That  the  Representatives  use  their  endeavour  to  obtain  an  altera- 
tion in  the  law  respecting  the  appointment  of  watches  so  far  as 
that  the  Selectmen  of  Boston  shall  have  the  same  power  in  that 
respect  as  the  Justices  of  the  peace  and  the  Selectmen  together 
have  now  ;  That  the  Town  Clerk  deliver  the  Representatives  a  copy 
of  this  vote  as  soon  as  may  be. 

[191»]  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  by  their  Superintendent  or 
otherwise  constantly  enquire  and  observe  in  every  part  of  the 
Town  where  there  may  be  any  collection  of  shavings,  or  other 
combustibles  to  the  danger  and  nuisances  of  the  Town  and  cause 
the  Attorney  General  or  the  Town  attorney  to  have  information 
thereof,  that  prosecutions  may  commence  thereon. 

Voted  that  one  person  for  each  ward,  be  now  appointed  for  the 
purpose  of  organizing  a  voluntary  patrole  of  the  inhabitants  dur- 
ing such  time  as  they  shall  judge  expedient,  when  the  following 
persons  were  chosen  Viz. 

Capt  John  Bray  Ward  N°  1 

Col'*  Rob*.  Gardner  2 

Thomas  Lewis  3 

Josiah  Vose  4 
Cap'.  Mitchell  Lincoln       5 

Isaiah  Doane  6 

Cap*.  Sam^  Prince  7 

David  Bradlee  Esq  8 

Arnold  Welles  Jr  Esq  9 

Gen^  John  Winslow  10 

Cap*.  Messinger  11 

Col°.  Amasa  Davis  12 

It  was  then  voted  that  should  either  of  the  above  Gentlemen 
decline  or  from  any  cause  be  unable  to  accept  the  above  appoint- 
ment the  Selectmen  are  desired  to  fill  such  vacancy. 

Voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  town  be  given  the  Moderator  for 
his  good  services  in  that  station 

Then  the  meetins;  was  Dissolved. 


[193.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned 
in  public  town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the 
first  day  of  March  Anno  Domini  1802  at  10  °Clock  AM 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting     -     -     -     Read 
David  Tilden  Esq. 
was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  vote 


Boston  Town  Records,  1802.  117 

The  article  in  the  Warrant  relative  to  the  list  of  qualified 
Toters  for  Governor  &c  &c  was  read  and  considered,  whereupon 

Voted  that  a  Committee  of  three  persons  be  chosen  for  each 
Ward  to  revise  correct  and  complete  the  list  of  qualified  Voters 
in  their  respective  wards  who  are  to  report  the  same  to  the 
Selectmen,  and  the  following  persons  were  accordingly  chosen  for 
said  purpose  viz*. 

Messrs.  Josiah  Snelling  Joseph  Callender  &  Cap*.  Jn°  Bray  for 
ward  N°  1 — Mess  John  Truman,  Rt  Gardner  &  Cap*.  Jacob 
Rhoades  N°  2.  Mess  Joseph  Smith  Edward  Edes  &  CoP  Proctor 
N°  3.  Mess  Joseph  Kettel  Josiah  Vose  and  John  Wells  N°  4  Mess 
Richard  Hewes,  Mitchell  Lincoln,  and  Samuel  Sturgis  N°  5,  Jn** 
Coffin  Jones  Esq.  Samuel  Whitwell  and  Samuel  Snelling  N°  6, 
Samuel  Parkman  Esq.  Sam^  Sumner  &  Benj^.  Austin  Esq.  N°  7  — 
William  Smith  Esq.  Cap*.  John  Brazier  and  Edward  Gray  Esq. 
N''  8,  Benj'*  Russell  Esq.  John  Fox  &  Arnold  Welles  Esq.  N° 
9,  General  Winslow  George  Blanchard  and  Deacon  Wright  N°  10 
CoP.  Waters  Henry  Vose  and  Benj*^.  Fessenden  N°  11,  Deacon 
Brown  Cap*.  Messenger  and  Amasa  Davis  Esq.  N°  12  Also  Voted 
that  so  soon  as  corrected  lists  are  reported  to  [193]  the  Select- 
men 1800  thereof  shall  be  printed,  making  150  for  each  ward. 

The  article  in  the  warrant  viz  "  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
appointing  Agents  with  powers  to  choose  Referrees  in  concurrence 
with  the  Legislature  for  the  final  adjustment  of  the  claims  of  the 
State  and  town  to  the  Old  town  house  "  was  read  and  considered 
whereupon  Voted  that  the  Board  of  Selectmen  viz  Charles  Bulfinch 
David  Tilden  Russell  Sturgis  Esq.  Cap*.  Joseph  Howard  Mr. 
William  Porter,  William  Sherburne  Esq.  Mr.  John  Tileston  Mr. 
Eben^.  Oliver  Mr.  Jonathan  Hunnewell  together  with  William 
Cooper  ihe  Town  Clerk  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee 
with  full  powers  for  the  purposes  mentioned  in  said  warrant. 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public  town 
meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  hall  on  Monday  the  eighth  day  of 
March  Anno  Domini  1802  at  nine  oClock  AM  — 

Prayer  was  made  by  Rev"^.  Mr.  Topkins 

Warrant  for  calling  a  meeting      -     -     Read 

Sundry  laws  to  be  read  at  this  meeting  were  accordingly  Read. 

Joseph  Russell  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  vote. 


118  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
votes  for  Town  Clerk,  and  the  same  having  been  brought  in  and 
counted  it  appeared  that 

William  Cooper  Esq. 
was   chosen  town  Clerk   for  the.  year  ensuing,  and  the  oath  of 
office  was  administered  by  Mr.  Justice  Bulfinch. 

[194.]  The  inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring 
in  their  votes  for  nine  Selectmen  ;  the  same  being  brought  in 
and  assorted  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were 
chosen  viz 

Charles  Bulfinch  Esq  William  Sherburne  Esq 

David  Tilden  Esq  Mr.  John  Tileston 

Eussell  Sturgis  Esq  Mr.  Eben''.  Oliver 

Cap*.  Joseph  Howard  Mr.  Jonathan  Hunnewell 
Mr.  William  Porter 

The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  three  oclock  PM. 

The  town  met  at  three  oclock  P  M  according  to  adjournment 

The  votes  being  brought  in  for  twelve  Overseers  of  the  poor,  it 
appeared  that 

Edward  Proctor  Esq  Mr.  Oliver  Brewster 

Mr.  Edward  Edes  Dr.  Redford  Webster 

Henry  Hill  Esq  Thomas  Perkins  Esq 

William  Smith  Esq  Stephen  Codman  Esq 

William  Phillips  Esq  Mr.  Samuel  Snelling 

Stephen  Corham  Esq  Mr.  Benj^.  Goddard 
were  chosen  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  year  ensuing 

On  motion  voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  town  be  given  to  the 
Hon''^®.  Jon^.  Loring  Austin  Esq  for  his  good  services  as  an 
overseer  of  the  poor  for  eighteen  years  past 

The  inhabitants  brought  in  their  votes  for  twenty  four  fire 
wards  when  it  appeared  that 

Thomas  Melvill  Esq  Mr.  Joseph  Head 

Mr.  Edward  Edes  Thomas  H  Perkins  Esq 

Amasa  Davis  Esq  John  Winslow  Esq 

[195.]  Samuel  Parkman  Esq  Cap*^  Joseph  Howard 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq.  Mr  Benjamin  Joy 

Henry  Jackson  Esq  Stephen  Codman  P^sq 

William  Scollay  Esq  Andrew  Cunningham  Esq 

Joseph  May  Esq  Mr.  John  Bray 

Cap*.  Robert  Gardner  Mr.  Thomas  Dennie 

John  May  Esq  General  Elliot 

William  Brown  Esq  Mr.  Gorham  Parsons 

Samuel  Bradford  Esq  Rufus  G.  Amory  Esq 

were  chosen  Firewards  for  the  year  ensuing. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1802.  119 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq  &  Mr.  Gorham  Parsons  declined  serving  as 
firewards,  and  were  accordingly  excused 

Voted  that  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen,  twelve  persons  shall 
now  be  chosen  as  a  school  committee,  and  the  votes  being 
brought  in  and  counted  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen 
were  chosen  viz 

Hon^^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq  William  Smith  Esq 

Eev'i.  Sam\  West  DD  Arnold  Welles  Jun'.  Esq 

Dr.  Thomas  Welch  Edward  Gray  Esq 

Eev*^.  Joseph  Eckley  DD  David  Greene  Esq 

Rev*^.  J  T  Kirkland  Josiah  Quincy  Esq 

Dr.  Aaron  Dexter  Rev*^.  William  Emmerson 

[196.]  The  Rev*^.  Samuel  West  declined  being  one  of  the 
School  Committee 

Voted  that  the  above  named  Gentlemen  who  conjunctly  with 
the  Selectmen  are  termed  the  School  committee  be  and  hereby  are 
directed  to  carry  the  new  system  of  education  which  has  been 
adopted  by  the  town  into  operation,  and  said  committee  are  also 
authorized  and  empowered  conjunctly  to  manage  and  regulate  the 
officers  and  the  Government  of  the  Schools,  and  in  fine  to  execute 
all  the  power  relating  to  the  schools  and  School-masters,  which 
the  Selectmen  of  such  Committees,  were  authorized  by  the  laws 
of  this  Commonwealth  or  the  votes  of  the  town  to  exercise ;  any 
former  vote  of  the  Town  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding. 

On  motion  voted  that  the  choice  of  Town  Treasurer,  County 
Treasurer,  collectors  of  Taxes  and  assessors  be  referred  over  to 
the  adjournment,  also  voted  that 

Deacon  Brown  Joseph  Russell  Esq 

General  Winslow  Thomas  H  Perkins  Esq 

Naty.  Fellowes  Esq  Samuel  Brown  Esq 

Amasa  Davis  Esq  Russell  Sturgis  Esq 

be  a  committee  to  consider  the  propriety  of  choosing  the  same 
person  as  Treasurer  of  the  Town  and  Treasurer  of  the  County 
also  the  subject  of  the  assessment  and  collection  of  taxes, 
and  to  devise  such  methods  therein  as  in  their  judgment  may  be 
for  the  interest  and  advantage  of  the  town,  And  said  Committee 
are  empowered  to  view  the  books  of  the  assessors,  Collectors  and 
Town  Treasurer;  also  to  apply  to  the  Court  of  sessions  for 
liberty  to  view  the  books  of  the  County  Treasurer,  to  report  at 
the  adjournment. 

On  motion  voted  that 

Hon^i«.  Judge  Sullivan  Hon^'^  H.  G.  Otis  Esq 

Hon'^^®.  Benj*.  Austin  Junr.  Edward  Gray  Esq 

Benj*^.  Russell  Esq 


120  City  Document  No.  115. 

be  a  Committee  to  consider  what  number  of  Constables  may  be 
necessary  to  be  chosen  and  to  report  at  the  adjournment. 

[197.]    Messrs.  Benjamin  White      Daniellngersoll  Jr. 

Moses  Ay  res  William  Darricott 

were  chosen  Fence  viewers  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Barney  Connor 
William  Wheeler 
were  chosen  Hogreeves  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Barney  Connor 

William  Wheeler 
were  chosen  Haywards,  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  .Jeffrey  Richardson 
Samuel  Emmes 
were  chosen  surveyors  of  Hemp  for  the  year  ensuing 

Edward  Tuckerman  Esq. 
Mr.  Edward  Edes 
were  chosen  surveyors  of  wheat  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  John  Wells 

William  Cooper  Hunneman 
were  chosen  assaymasters  for  the  year  ensuing 

Messrs.  Roger  Bartlett 

Jonathan  Cushing 
were  chosen  cullers  of  dry  fish  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Henry  Purkett.  Thomas  Barber 

Lemuel  Gardner  James  Eunson 

were  chosen  cullers  of  Hoops  &  Staves  for  the  year  ensuing. 

The  Selectmen 
were  chosen  surveyors  of  Highways  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Mr.  Edward  Rumney 
was  chosen  inspector  of  stone  lime  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Votes  for  twelve  surveyors  of  boards  and  shingles  were 
brought  in  it  appeared  on  assorting  them  that  but  ten  were 
chosen 

Viz.  Messrs.  Joshua  Bentley  William  Clouston 

Benj^.  White  William  Darricot 

Benj^.  Page  William  Ellison 

James  Blake  James  Robins 

[198.]  John  Cogswell  Daniel  Ingersol  Junr. 

The  votes  being  brought  in  for  a  town  advocate  for  the  munici- 
pal court  it  appeared  that  John  Philhps  Esq.  was  chosen  . 


Boston  Town  Records,  1802.  121 

Voted  that  the  consideration  of  all  money  matters  be  referred 
to  next  May  meeting 

Voted  the  Hon^^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 

Sam^  Brown  Esq. 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  audit  the  aceompts 
of  the  Town  Treasurer,  and  also  the  aceompts  of  the  Selectmen 
Overseers  of  the  Poor  and  Board  of  Health,  and  said  Committee 
are  also  directed  to  report  the  sum  necessary  to  be  raised  for  the 
services  of  the  present  year. 

The  consideration  relative  to  [the]  Article  in  [the]  warrant  re- 
specting the  Treasurers  issuing  small  notes  or  due  bills  referred  to 
the  Auditors  of  accounts  to  report  at  May  meeting 

The  article  in  warrant  relative  to  Cobb  and  Hartshorne  as  to 
exchange  of  land  &c  read  whereupon 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  [are]  authorized  and 
impowered  to  make  such  an  agreement  as  shall  appear  to  them  to 
be  for  the  advantage  of  the  Town 

The  application  of  Isaac  P.  Davis  that  the  Town  would  sell 
him  a  small  piece  of  land  &c  was  read,  whereupon 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  authorized  and 
impowered  to  make  sale  of  the  land  in  Pleasant  Street,  applied 
for  by  Mr.  Davis,  provided  they  can  do  it  on  such  terms  as  they 
shall  think  for  the  interest  of  the  town 

The  meeting  was  then  adjourned  to  Wednesday  the  seventeenth 
day  of  March  instant  at  ten  oclock  AM. 

[199.]  Wednesday  March  17,  10  °Clock  AM,  the  Town 
met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  committee  to  consider  what  number  of  Constables  may  be 
necessary  to  be  chosen  having  reported,  and  said  report  accepted 
by  the  town,  the  votes  were  accordingly  brought  in  for  eight  Con- 
stables when  it  appeared  that 

Messrs.  EUsha  Copeland  Thomas  Stevenson 

Solomon  Twist  Amos  Lewis 

Henry  Lane  Samuel  White 

Moses  Thayer  Jirah  Holbrook 

were  chosen  Constables  for  the  year  ensuing 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  expediency  of  unit- 
ing the  office  of  town  treasurer  and  County  Treasurer  in  one  per- 
son, and   to  devise    a    more    correct  and    economical  mode   for 


122  City  Document  No.  115. 

assessing  and  collecting  the  tax  of  the  tov/n  of  Boston,  having 
attended  and  considered  the  duties  to  which  they  are  appointed 
beg  leave  to  report, 

That  the  office  of  Town  Treasurer  and  the  office    of  County 
Treasurer  for  the  present  year  be  vested  in  separate  persons  — 
second,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Inhabitants  to  choose  the 
Town  Treasurer  Collector  for  the  town 

third,  That  the  Assessors  of  the  Town  of  Boston  shall  for  the 
present  year  consist  of  three  persons  to  be  paid  by  the  town  for 
their  services  hereafter  named,  and  that  they  hold  no  other  office 
of  profit  in  the  town  of  Boston,  and 

fourth,  that  in  each  ward  the  voters  shall  annually  assemble  on 
the  first  Wednesday  of  Api'il  and  then  choose  and  appoint  two 
persons  in  each  of  their  respective  wards  to  assist  the  town  asses- 
sors in  taking  a  list  of  the  polls,  in  estimating  the  value  of  their 
personal  property,  in  appraising  the  value  of  all  real  estates  in 
their  own  wards,  to  assist  the  Town  assessors  in  taking  a  list  of 
the  Polls,  in  estimating  the  value  of  their  personal  property,  in 
appraising  the  value  of  all  real  estates  in  their  own  wards ;  and 
the  twenty  four  persons  thus  chosen  in  the  respective  wards  shall 
meet  &  nominate  for  the  approbation  of  the  town  three  persons 
whom  they  shall  judge  best  qualified  to  serve  the  town  in  the 
office  of  assessors  [300]  the  ensuing  year,  and  the  two  assist- 
ants chosen  for  each  ward  as  their  service,  though  important,  will 
be  of  short  duration  are  not  to  be  allowed  any  pecuniary  com- 
pensation. 

fifth,  that  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  be  requested  to  publish  & 
notify  the  respective  wards  to  choose  and  appoint  those  assist- 
ants to  the  town  assessors  when  they  choose  their  members  of 
the  Board  of  Health  on  the  day  above  mentioned ;  and  in  case  of 
death  or  resignation  the  Chairman  be  directed  to  call  a  meeting 
in  either  Ward. 

sixth,  That  when  the  list  and  inventory  is  taken  as  before  men- 
tioned the  Assessors  shall  then  make  a  fair  schedule  in  a  book  of 
all  the  real  estate,  its  situation  and  appraised  value,  of  the  Polls 
rateable  and  not  rateable,  the  returns  or  estimated  value  of  per- 
sonal property  —  And  the  assessors  shall  give  notice  that  their 
books  are  open  at  their  office  for  the  free  examination  of  all  whom 
they  have  taxed,  that  the  inhabitants  in  thirty  days  may  receive 
or  communicate  information,  or  apply  for  alteration  in  the  esti- 
mated value  of  their  personal  property  in  such  manner  as  the 
Law  directs,  the  inventory  of  polls  aiid  personal  property  shall 
be  taken  annually,  and  if  alterations  in  the  schedule  of  Real 
estates  shall  appear  necessary  it  shall  at  the  same  time  be 
attended  to 

seventh.  When  the  tax  is  completed,  the  assessors  shall  fill  up  & 
distribute  printed  tax  bills  to  all  whom  they  have  taxed,  at  the 
foot  of  which  bills  shall  be  printed  the  deductions  for  prompt 
payments  as  hereafter  is  provided 

eighth.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Town  Treasurer  in  his  addi- 
tional office  as  collector  to  receive  the  tax  and  discharge  the  Tax 


Boston  Town  Records,  1802.  123 

bill  of  all  persons  who  shall  apply  to  him  at  his  office  and  make 
payment —  and  for  those  who  shall  pay  him  within  30  days  from 
the  date  of  his  tax  bill,  he  shall  deduct  5  per  cent,  for  those  who 
pay  him  within  60  days,  3  per  cent,  for  those  who  pay  him  with- 
in 120  days,  2  per  cent  from  the  amount  of  their  tax  bills 
ninth,  The  Collector  shall  distrain  upon  the  property  or  person  of 
those  who  are  delinquent  after  the  expiration  of  six  months  as 
the  law  directs 

tenth,  the  Assessors  and  Collectors  shall  once  in  a  year  on  or 
before  the  first  day  of  March  make  return  to  the  Selectmen  of 
[301]  all  abatements,  delinquents,  and  the  amount  of  Tax  not 
collected 

And  your  Committee  recommend  that  the  town  choose  and 
appoint  a  Committee  to  apply  to  the  General  Court  at  their  next 
session,  and  that  the  Representatives  be  the  Committee  to  apply 
to  the  next  General  Court  under  the  direction  of  the  Selectmen 
for  the  purpose  of  making  such  law  as  may  be  required  to  carry 
the  above  votes  into  effect  if  any  should  be  found  necessary 

The  aforegoing  report  having  been  read  and  amended  by 
Paragraphs,  the  question  was  then  put  —  Whether  said  Report 
shall  be  accepted  by  the  Town  as  thus  amended  when  it  passed  in 
the  affirmative  almost  unanimously 

Adjourned  to  three  oclock  P  M. — 

At  3  "Clock  P.M.  Town  met  according  to  adjournm*. 

Samuel  Clap  Esq. 
was  chosen  Town  Treasurer  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Samuel  Clap  Esq 
was  chosen  Town  Collector  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Votes  were  brought  in  for  two  Surveyors  of  Boards  twice  and 
there  being  a  [no?]  choice  this  business  was  referred  to  the 
adjournment. 

Votes  for  a  Treasurer  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  were  brought 
in  and  counted  by  the  Moderator  and  Town  Clerk,  when  it  ap- 
peared that  the  whole  number  was  279  all  of  which  for  Ebenezer 
Seaver  Esq  ;  a  discreet  and  suitable  person,  and  a  Freeholder  and 
Resident  in  said  County. 

Messrs  Jonathan  Hunnewell 
Daniel  Messenger 
were  chosen  Firewards  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  town  be  given  to  Nathaniel  Fel- 
lows &  Russell  Sturgis  Esqrs.  and  Mr.  Gorham  Parsons  for  their 
good  services  as  Firewards  a  number  of  years  past 


124  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  further  consideration  of  tlie  report  of  the  Committee  rela- 
tive to  the  Town  Treasurer  issuing  small  notes  &c  was  referred 
to  May  meeting 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday  the  21  April  next,  at  ten  oclock 
AM. — 


[303.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  male  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Boston  of  twenty  one  years  of  age  and  upwards  qualified  as  the 
constitution  prescribes  and  legally  warned  in  public  town  meeting 
assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  fifth  day  of  April 
Anno  Domini  1802,  11  '^  Clock  AM 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Rey*^.  Mr.  Haskell 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting  -     -     -  Read 

Paragraph  of  the  Constitution  or  frame  of  Government  relative 
to  the  choice  of  Governor  and  L*.  Governor  and  Senators      Read 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  vote  should  be 
received  but  such  as  were  unfolded,  and  that  they  propose  the 
polls  should  be  closed  at  three  oclock  PM  the  votes  to  be  received 
at  the  Table  and  the  bells  to  begin  tolling  at  half  past  two  oclock 

The  selectmen  acquainted  the  town  with  the  method  they  had 
adopted  to  carry  the  new  law  into  effect 

[303.]  Persons  voted  for  as  Governor  with  the  number  of 
votes  for  each  person  Viz 

Votes 

Hon^i^  Caleb  Strong  Esq. 2372 

Hon^^*".  Elbridge  Gerry  Esq. 1498 

Persons  voted  for  as  L*.  Governor  with  the  number  of  votes  for 
each  person  Viz 

Hon^^^'  WiUiam  Heath  Esq. 1495 

Hon''l^  Edward  H  Robbins  Esq. 2369 

Persons  voted  for  for  Senators  for  the  County  of   Suffolk,  with 
the  number  of  votes  for  each  person  Viz*. 

Hon'^i^  oUver  Wendall  Esq. 2375 

Hon^i^  William  Tudor  Esq. 2373 

Hou''^''.  James  Bowdoin  Esq. 1497 

Hon^i''.  Benj^.  Austin  Jun^  Esq. 1498 

Hon'^i^.  Peleg  Coffin  Esq. 2375 

.John  Q,  Adams  Esq. 2373 

Nathi.  Fellowes  Esq. 1495 

David  Tilden  Esq. 1495 


Boston  Town  Records,  1802.  125 

Attested  Copies  of  Persons  voted  for  as  Governor  L'.  Governor 
and  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  were  sealed  up  in  Town 
meeting,  after  the  votes  had  been  declared  to  the  Town  attested 
copies  of  them  were  that  evening  delivered  to  the  Secretary  of 
this  Commonwealth  by  the  Town  Clerk,  superscribed  as  follows 

For  John  Avery  Esq 
Sec^.  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

The  number  of  votes  of  the  Town  of  Boston  for  Governor  L*. 
Governor  and  four  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  certified 
within  and  sealed  up  in  town  meeting 

Then  the  Meetins;  was  Dissolved. 


[204.]  Wednesday  April  21.  1802  at  10  oclock  AM.  the 
Town  met  according  to  adjournment 

Rev'^.  Mr.  West  having  declined  serving  as  one  of  the  School 
Conomittee,  it  was  moved  and  voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  Town 
be  and  are  hereby  given  to  Rev**.  Doct  Samuel  West  for  his  good 
services  as  one  of  the  School  committee  for  a  number  of  years 
past 

Votes  being  brought  in  for  two  Surveyors  of  boards  and 
shingles  it  appeared  that 

Mess  John  Butterfield 
Samuel  Treat 
were  chosen    surveyors    of   Boards    and    shingles    for   the   year 
ensuing 

The  votes  being  brought  in  for  one  of  the  School  Committee 
in  the  room  of  Doct  West  it  appeared  that 
Rev*^.  John  [S]  Popkins 
was  chosen  in  the  room  of  Dr.  West  who  has  resigned 

The  committee  of  the  several  Wards  relative  to  assistants  for 
the  assessors  —  Reported  that 

Agreeable  to  a  vote  of  the  Town,  the  respective  Wards  met  on 
the  first  Wednesday  of  April  and  chose  two  assistant  assessors 
for  each  Ward  who  being  notified  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Select- 
men, met  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Saturday  the  17"\  and  by  adjourn- 
ment on  Monday  the  nineteenth  of  April  for  the  purpose  of  choos- 
ing three  persons  to  be  nominated  to  the  town  as  assessors  when 
Messrs.  Josiah  Snelling  Samuel  Dunn  and  Benjamin  Sumner  were 
unanimously  chosen, 

present  Mess  John  W  Quincy  Ward  N°.  1 

Jacob  Holland  2 


126  City  Document  No.  115. 

Edward  Proctor  } 

Edward  Edes       \ ^ 

William  Walter  ) 
Benj^.  Smith       ( 

TTid  j    .     .     .  .  6 

W  Boardman       j 

R  Webster  N  Webb 5 

C  Loring  ] 

S  W  Sumner        j ' 

J  Brazier 
E  Morse 

[205.]  Naty.  Fellowes  ) .    ^^^^^^   g 

D.  D.  Rogers      j  wara^  .  y 

J  Winslow  ) 

T  Wright  I    -----     -       10 

Jon*.  Hunnewell 11 

W  Brown  ) 

N  Bradley  j ^^ 

Nath^.  Fellowes  Chairm". 
William  Walter  Sec^ 

The  foregoing  Report  having  been  accepted  by  the  town  and  the 
votes  for  three  assessors  having  been  brought  in  &  assorted  it 
appeared  that 

Messrs.  Josiah  Snelling 
Samuel  Dunn 
Benj'^.  Sumner 
were  chosen  Assessors  for  the  year  ensuing 

Voted  that  all  matters  which  shall  remain  unfinished  at  this 
meeting  be  referred  over  to  the  May  meeting. 

Voted  unanimously  that  the  thanks  of  the  town  be  given  to 
Joseph  Russell  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  meeting  for  the 
dispatch  given  the  business  that  came  before  them 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


[306.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  male  Inhabitants  of  the  town 
of  Boston  of  twenty  one  years  of  age  and  upwards  qualified  as 
the  Constitution  prescribes  and  legally  warned  in  public  town 
meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  twelfth 
day  of  May  Anno  Domini  1802  11  °Clock  AM 

Prayer  by  Reverend  Mr.  Jn°  Murray 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting  was  Read 

That  part  of  the  Constitution  or  frame  of  government  which 
relates  to  the  choice  of  Representatives  was  Read 


Boston  Towk  Records,  1802.  127 

The  town  having  determined  by  a  vote  to  choose  seven  persons 
to  Represent  them  in  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  to  be 
holden  in  the  State  house  in  Boston  on  the  last  Wednesday  of 
May  current  agreeable  to  the  Constitution  or  frame  of  Govern- 
ment for  Massachusetts ;  the  inhabitants  were  directed  by  the 
Selectmen  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their  votes  for  seven  Repre- 
sentatives and  then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  vote 
would  be  received  but  such  as  are  unfolded,  and  until  the  names 
of  the  persons  entering  shall  be  marked  on  the  list  by  the  Gentle- 
men who  assist  for  that  purpose  from  the  several  wards,  and  that 
they  propose  the  polls  shall  be  closed  at  half  past  two  o'clock, 
the  bells  to  begin  tolling  at  two  oclock  and  to  continue  until  half 
an  hour  is  expired 

The  votes  being  brought  in  for  seven  Representatives,  the 
whole  number  of  the  same  were  found  to  be  2408,  and  upon  as- 
sorting them  it  appeared  that  the  following  seven  Gentlemen  had 
obtained  a  majority  of  the  votes  Viz 

Hon'^i^  John  C  Jones  Esq 1386 

Hon''^®.  Harrison  Gray  Otis  Esq. 1378 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 1378 

Samuel  Parkman  Esq 1383 

John  Lowell  Esq. 1369 

Deacon  William*  Brown 1382 

Jon*^.  Hunnewell  Esq. 1374 

[207.]     The  votes    given  for  such  as  did  not  obtain  were  for 

Charles  Jarvis  Esq Votes  1030 

James  Bowdoin  Esq -  1022 

Benj^.  Austin  Jun''.  Esq. 1023 

David  Tilden  Esq 1020 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq 1024 

Nathaniel  Fellowes  Esq 1018 

Samuel  Brown  Esq 1036 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being   over  and   declared  by  the 
Selectmen,  the  meeting  was  dissolved 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public  town 
meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  hall  on  Tuesday  the  thirteenth  day 
of  May  Anno  Domini  1802,  10  °Clock  A.M. 

Prayer  by  Rev*^.  Mr.  Murray 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting  was         Read 

The  Hon^^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 
was  chosen  Moderator  of  this  meeting  by  a  hand  vote 


128  City  Document  No.  115. 

Hon^^''.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 

William  Tudor  Esq 

John  Winslow  Esq 

William  Brown  Esq 

Mr.  Josiah  Knapp 

Mr.  Joshua  Davis  Jun'. 
are  added  to  the   Selectmen  who  conjunctly  are  to  manage  and 
lease  the  lands  on  the  neck 

The  article  in  the  warrant  viz  To  consider  &  adopt  such 
methods  as  may  be  proper  to  investigate  the  Towns  claims  to  the 
Flatts  and  Docks,  also  appoint  Agents  with  authority  to  settle 
and  compromise  any  difference  and  to  prosecute  &  [308]  defend 
suits  on  the  towns  claims  to  final  judgment  &  execution  and  to 
do  any  thing  which  may  be  thought  proper  to  be  done  at  said 
meeting  on  that  subject  was  read,  whereupon 

Voted  that  the  above  Committee  be  added  to  the  Selectmen  for 
the  purpose  aforesaid  to  report  at  the  adjournment  and  Thomas 
Davis,  Samuel  Brown  and  John  Andrews,  Esquires  are  added  to 
said  Committee 

The  article  in  the  warrant  viz  That  the  town  would  take  into 
consideration  the  propriety  of  an  application  to  the  Legislature  for 
an  alteration  in  the  law  respecting  the  choice  of  Constables  was 
read  whereupon 

Voted  that  this  matter  be  referred  to  the  Gentlemen  who  repre- 
sent this  town  in  the  General  Court  who  are  desired  to  act  thereon 
as  they  may  think  proper 

The  Committee  to  audit  Treasurers  accounts  &c 
Report 

That  the  Selectmens  drafts  amount  to      -     .     -     -    $42557.26 

Overseers  of  the  poor 13946.98 

Board  of  Health  from  May  1801  to  May  1802       -     -        3248.49 


Total     -     -     -     -      59752.73 
The  Treasurer  charges 

p'^.  A  Tukesbury  for  repairs  &  sundries      -     -  222.12 

also  amount  of  abatements,  viz 

To  Benj  Henderson  - 

Tho«  Bailey    -     - 

Benj  Jepson   -     - 

C  Marshall      -     - 


the  above  completes  the  abatement  of 
taxes  for  1800  by  the  assessors  certified 
March  15  1802 


•   942.33 

■  210S.  4 

•   641.95 

■  1279.18 

4971, 

.50 

Boston  Towisr  Records,  1802.  129 

The   treasurer   charges    money   paid    for 

interest 2403.25 

The  treasurer  charges  himself  with  new 

a/cbal«^ 23231.36.5 

90580.96.5 

The  treasurer  gives  Cr  by  the  bal°®.  of ') 

old  acc°. [  21601.90.2 

April  13  1801  3 

By  sundries  received  of  William  Gooch  in 

8  paym*^ 407.15 

By  William  aooch's  note 372.63 

780.8 

By  the  Board  of  health 234.62 

By  Gen^.  Winslow  for  2    fines  to  Board 

health 400. 

634.62 

By  1  fine     -      - -.-  1.66 

[209.]     By  S  Bourne  Esq.  2  fines 2.62 

By  Mungo  Mackay  Esq.  subscription  money  for  Cam- 
bridge Street 100. 

By  O  Hartshorne  for  lands  sold  him 1070. 

By  George  Trott  for  hay  engine      -     -     -     =     -     -     -     194.58 

By  Cloughs  note 13.33.3 

By  sundry  rents 749. 

By  A  Tukesbury  for  rent 133.33 

By   the    States    Treasurer  2   semi  annual  payments 

for  States  poor  in  Almshouse 5299.84 

By  the  tax  voted  for  1801   -     -     - 60.000.00 


90580.96.5 


The   treasurer   also   exhibits    a   trial   balance   Acc°. 
April  1802 

And  charges  Town  powder  -     -  1041.94 

Notes  receivable 372.63 

Andrew  Tukesbury     ----- 127.51 

Estate  of  James  Thompson 645.78 

Cash 366.33 

Benj^.  Henderson 10216.22 

Christopher  Marshall 2430.60 

ditto 13772.   1 

Benf.  Jepson 17349.13 

Thomas  Bailey      --------    14327.72 


58095.68 


60649.87.5 


130  City  Document  No.  115. 

And  credits  for  notes  payable    -     -     .     -  30948.80 

Estate  of  John  G-ray 107. 

Samuel  Clap 491.84 

Town  of  Boston 23231.36. 

Overseers  drafts 66.44 

Selectmens  drafts 5804.43 


60649.87.5 


Amount  of  notes  payable  and  to  whom  viz 

Ezekiel  Price  April  1.  1790        .     -     .     -  220.15.4 

B  Barker  March  1.  1792       -----  463.   5 

Elizabeth  Partridge 231.12.6 

Selectmen  of  Boston 369. 

Benja  Waldo  June  29 800. 


£2084.12.10 
equal  to     -     -     -    6948.80 
Borrowed  of  the  Union  Bank  for  Almshouse     -     -     -  20000. 

for  Board  health        -     -     2000. 
for  oil  for  Lamps     -     -    2000 

$30948.80 

[310.]  The  particulars  of  the  foregoing  statements  are  in 
the  several  accounts  herein  annexed  to  which  a  reference  may  be 
had  all  which  appears  to  be  well  vouched  and  right  cast.  The 
Committee  after  taking  many  circumstances  of  the  town  into  con- 
sideration recommend  a  tax  to  be  laid  for  70,000  dollars  all 
which  is  respectfully  submitted 

Thomas  Dawes 
Joseph  Russell 
Samuel  Brown 

The  foregoing  report  having  been  read  and  considered  the  same 
was  accepted  whereupon  it  was 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  70,000  dollars  be  raised  by  a  tax  to  be 
assessed  on  the  Polls  and  estates  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town 
to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  current  year 

Voted  that  the  Town  Treasurer  and  collectors  of  taxes  Salaries, 
and  the  compensations  to  the  assessors  now  chosen  be  referred 
for  consideration  to  the  assistants  of  the  town  assessors  to  report 
at  the  adjournment 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  Six  hundred  and  sixty  six  dollars  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  Wilham  Cooper  for  his  services  as  Town 
Clerk  the  present  year  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it 
shall  become  due,  and  to  commence  the  first  day  of  March  last 


Boston  Town  Records,  1802.  131 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars  be  allowed  to 
John  Phillips  Esq.  for  his  services  as  Town  Advocate  the  year 
ensuing 

Voted  to  print  the  schedule  of  Town  expenses  the  last  year 

The  report  of  the  Committee  relative  to  Town  Treasurers  being 
impowered  to  issue  small  notes  &c,  again  read  and  debated  and 
the  question  being  put,  Whether  the  Report  shall  be  accepted," 
passed  in  the  negative 

Adjourned  to  Monday  the  twenty  fourth  day  of  May  instant  at 
three  oclock.  PM 

Monday  May  24  1802.  the  Town  met  according  to  Adjourn- 
ment 

The  Committee  to  investigate  the  Towns  claim  to  the  docks  and 
Flatts,  Eeport, 

That  they  have  fully  considered  the  subject  as  it  respects  the 
flatts  between  the  vSouth  Battery  Sconce  and  Scarlets  Wharfe 
[^11.]  formerly  so  called  ;  have  examined  the  earliest  record  & 
heard  council  on  the  subject.  The  Committee  find  that  the  rights 
of  the  abutters  were  limited  by  a  circular  line  drawn  in  the  year 
1673  according  to  an  agreement  signed  by  them  and  by  the 
Selectmen — The  Committee  have  examined  the  plan  of  the  cir- 
cular line  which  was  taken  in  1708,  and  are  of  opinion  that  this 
line  should  be  considered  as  the  boundaries  of  the  rights  of  the 
abutters  on  the  sea  or  flatts  eastward 

By  order  of  the  Committee 

Charles  Bulfinch  Chairman 

The  foregoing  report  having  been  read  and  debated  was 
accepted  by  the  town 

A  motion  being  made  for  a  reconsideration  did  not  obtain 

The  committee  appointed  to  consider  a  compensation  for  the 
services  of  the  assessors  and  Town  Treasurer,  and  the  Collector 
of  Taxes  —  Eeport 

That  they  are  of  opinion  that  Six  hundred  &  fifty  dollars  be 
allowed  to  each  of  the  assessors,  as  a  compensation  for  their 
services,  and  that  one  thousand  dollars  p'^  Annum  for  the  Town 
Treasurer  and  Collector  of  Taxes  as  a  compensation  for  his 
services 

Nathaniel  Fellowes  p''  Order. 

The  foregoing  Report  having  been  accepted  it  was  thereupon 
voted. 


132  City  Document  No.  115. 

That  the  sum  of  One  thousand  dollars  be  allowed  and  paid 
unto  Samuel  Clap  Esq.  as  a  compensation  for  his  services  as 
Town  Treasurer  and  Collector  of  taxes  the  present  year,  the  same 
to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due  and  to  commence 
the  first  day  of  March  last,  also 

Voted  that  Six  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  be  allowed  and  paid  to 
each  the  assessors  for  their  respective  services  the  present  year, 
the  same  to  be  paid  them  quarterly  as  it  shall  become  due,  and  to 
commence  the  first  day  of  March  last 

Voted  that  the  town  Treasurer  be  authorized  and  empowered 
to  borrow  on  lawful  interest  for  the  use  of  the  Board  of  Health 
as  there  may  be  occasion  a  sum  not  exceeding  two  thousand 
dollars 

Voted  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be  authorized  and  empowered 
to  borrow  on  lawful  interest  for  the  use  of  the  Selectmen  as  there 
may  be  occasion  a  sum  not  exceeding  two  thousand  dollars 

[313.]  Voted  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be  authorized  and 
empowered  to  borrow  on  lawful  interest  a  sum  not  exceeding  four 
thousand  dollars  for  the  use  of  the  Selectmen  for  the  special  pur- 
pose of  defraying  the  sums  which  have  been  awarded  to  those 
persons  whose  lands  and  buildings  in  Fish  Street  have  been  taken 
from  them  since  the  late  fire  to  enlarge  and  improve  said  street. 

Voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the  Honble 
Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  the  Moderator  of  this  meeting  for  his  good 
services  in  dispatching  the  business  of  the  meeting 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town 
meeting,  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  5*^^.  day  of 
July  Anno  Domini  1802  at  9  oclock  AM  — 

"Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting    -     -     Read 

William  Cooper  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator. 

The  Committee  appointed  last  year  to  make  choice  of  a  Gentle- 
man to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  Independence 

Reported,  that  they  had  made  choice  of  the  Rev"^  William 
Emmerson  who  has  accepted  the  appointment 

On  motion  adjourned  to  Old  South  Church  when  agreeable  to 
the  information  of  the  Selectmen 


Boston  Town  Records,  1802.  133 


AN   ORATION 

to  commemorate  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  was 
delivered  by  the  Rev^.  William  Emmerson  at  the  old  South 
Church 

On  motion  voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  wait 
on  the  Rev*^.  William  Emmerson,  and  in  the  name  of  the  Town 
to  thank  him  for  the  elegant  and  spirited  Oration  this  day  [313] 
delivered  by  him  at  the  request  of  the  town  upon  the  anniversary 
of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America ;  in  which 
according  to  the  Institution  of  the  Town  he  considered  the  feel- 
ings manners  and  principles  which  led  to  that  great  national 
event ;  and  to  request  of  him  a  copy  thereof  for  the  Press 

On  motion  voted  that  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  be  and  hereby 
are  appointed  a  Committee  to  apply  to  some  one  able  &  learned 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  fourth  day  of  July  A  D 
1803,  that  day  being  the  anniversary  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America  wherein  the  Orator  is  to  consider  the 
feelings,  manners  and  principles  which  led  to  this  great  national 
event ;  as  well  as  the  important  and  happy  effects,  whether  gen- 
eral or  domestic,  which  have  already  or  will  forever  flow  from 
that  auspicious  epoch 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public  town 
meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  hall  on  Wednesday  the  fourteenth 
day  of  July  A«   D'.  1802,  3  "Clock  P  M 

Warrant  for  calling  a  meeting       -     -     Read 

Hon'''®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 
was  chosen  Moderator 

The  petition  of  a  number  of  the  Physicians  of  the  Town,  and  of 
the  Board  of  Health,  that  the  town  would  take  into  consideration 
the  expediency  of  granting  permission  (under  direction  of  the 
Board  of  Health)  to  inoculate  twenty  persons  with  the  small  pox, 
having  previously  had  the  Kine  pox,  in  order  to  ascertain  beyond 
all  reasonable  doubt,  the  utility  of  that  disorder  as  a  preventa- 
tive against  the  small  pox,  and  also  that  they  be  empowered  to 
take  up  some  proper  house  as  a  hospital  wherein  to  make  these 
experiments  —  was  read  and  after  considerable  debate  the  question 
was  put  and  did  not  obtain,  It  was  then  moved  &  Voted  that 
the  Prayer  of  this  Petition  be  so  far  complied  with  that  [214] 
the  Board  of  health  have  full  power  to  make  the  experiment  at 


134  City  Document  No.  115. 

any  place  that  they  may  judge  convenient  provided  that  it  be  not 
within  the  town 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town 
meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  twenty  seventh 
day  of  September  Anno  Domini  1802,  10  oclock  AM 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting         Eead 

Ebenezer  Hancock  Esq. 
was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  vote  — 

Samuel  Clap  Esq.  letter  of  Resignation  as  Town  Treasurer  and 
Collector  of  Taxes  for  the  present  year  was  read  and  accepted, 
as  by  copy  on  file. 

On  motion  voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  Samuel  Clap  Esq.  for  his  good  and  faithful  services 
as  Town  Treasurer  for  a  number  of  years  past. 

The  inhabitants  were  directed  to  bring  in  their  votes  for  Town 
Treasurer  and  Collector  of  taxes  for  the  remainder  of  the  year, 
and  the  same  being  brought  in  and  counted  it  appeared  that 

Elbenezer  Storer  Esq. 
was   chosen   Town   Treasurer   and  Collector    by    a   very   large 
majority. 

On  motion  voted  that  the  Auditors  of  the  Towns  accounts 
chosen  last  March  be  desired  to  examine  the  accounts  of  the  late 
Treasurer,  and  to  balance  his  books 

The  article  in  the  warrant  relative  to  the  proceedings  of  the 
trustees  for  managing  the  land  on  the  neck,  was  read,  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Town  do  now  ratify  and  confirm  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Trustees  for  managing  their  land  on  the  Neck  and 
authorize  them  or  the  major  part  of  them  as  may  be  annually 
chosen  for  that  purpose  to  execute  in  behalf  of  the  Town,  such 
[315]  leases  thereof  or  of  any  parcel  or  parts  thereof  which  such 
reservations  of  Rents  and  Rights  of  pre  entry  and  limitations, 
covenants  of  renewal  or  any  other  covenants  ;  as  in  the  opinion 
of  the  said  Trustees,  or  the  major  part  of  them  shall  be  most  for 
the  interest  of  the  Town ;  which  authority  shall  continue  until 
revoked  by  the  Town,  Provided  that  in  all  cases,  the  leases  of  the 
said  lands  and  any  part  or  parcel  of  them  shall  be  sold  at  public 
auction 


Boston  Town  Records,  1802.  135 

The  article  in  the  -warrant  containing  the  request  of  Cap*.  John 
Brazer  was  read,  whereupon 

Voted  that  his  request  be  referred  to  the  Selectmen  for  considera- 
tion to  report  thereon  at  the  next  general  Town  meeting  that  may 
be  called 

The  article  in  the  warrant,  viz.  The  request  of  Jon*.  Ellis  that 
means  may  be  adopted  to  make  the  necessary  abatement  in  his 
Tax  for  1801  was  read  whereupon 

Voted  that  the  present  Assessors  together  with  two  of  the 
Assessors  of  the  last  year  viz  Eben"".  Seaver  &  Jedediah  Parker 
be  a  Committee  with  authority  to  make  the  necessary  abatements 
on  the  outstanding  Taxes  prior  to  1802,  and  to  close  the  old 
Assessors  books  to  that  period 

Voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  heieby  are  given 
unto  Ebenezer  Hancock  Esq.  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


[316.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public 
town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  hall  on  the  first  day  of  Nov'. 
Anno  Domini  1802,  11  °Clock  A  M. 

Prayer  was  made  by  Eev'^.  Mr.  Gardner 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting      -     -     Read 

Paragraph  of  the  Resolve  of  the  General  Court  for  the  choice  of 
one  Representative  for  the  Suffolk  district  of  this  Commonwealth 
in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  &c  was  Read 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  the  poll  would  be 
closed  at  two  oclock  P  M  the  bell  to  begin  tolling  at  half  past 
one  oclock  — 

Persons  voted  for  as  a  Representative  for  the  Suffolk  district 
for  this  Commonwealth  in  the  next  Congress  of  the  United  States 
Viz 

Hon^^®.  William  Eustis  Esq''.  Fourteen  hundred  and  thirty 
votes 

Hon*^^.  John  Q.  Adams  Esq"".  Fourteen  hundred  and  ninety 
six  and  the  same  was  declared  in  Town  meeting. 

An  attested  Copy  of  the  persons  voted  for  as  above  was  sealed 
up  in  Town  meeting  after  a  declaration   had  been  made   by  the 


136  City  Document  No.  115. 

Selectmen  of  the  persons  voted  for  as  a  Representative  for 
the  Suffolk  district  in  this  Commonwealth  in  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  —  and  the  same  was  put  into  the  hands  of  the 
Sheriff  of  this  County,  to  be  delivered  to  the  Secretary  of  this 
Commonwealth,  superscribed  as  follows  viz*. 

For  John  Avery  Esq. 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


[31 7.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
public  town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  Dec'.  23*^.  AD 
1802,  10  "Clock  AM. — 

Warrant  for  calling  a  meeting         Read 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 
was  chosen  moderator  by  a  hand  Vote. 

The  article  in  the  warrant  viz.  To  consider  the  expediency  of 
appointing  Agents  with  full  power  to  make  a  final  adjustment  by 
sale,  purchase  or  otherwise  with  the  Legislature  relative  to  the 
Old  Town  house,  Or  to  take  such  other  measures  respecting  the 
same  as  may  be  most  for  the  interest  &  honor  of  the  Town,  was 
read  &  considered,  whereupon 

Voted,  That  the  Hon^^^  the  Senators  of  the  County  of  Suffolk, 
and  the  Representatives  of  the  Town  of  Boston  be  authorized 
with  full  power  to  make  any  contract  on  the  part  of  the  Town 
with  the  Oeneral  Court  of  this  Commonwealth,  and  the  Counties 
of  Suffolk  &  Norfolk  relative  to  the  Old  Town  House,  by  sale 
purchase  or  otherwise,  and  on  such  terms  and  conditions  as  to 
them  may  appear  most  for  the  interest  and  honor  of  the  Town 

The  article  in  the  warrant  relative  to  a  further  allowance  to 
the  Assessors,  Town  Treasurer  and  Collector  &c  was  read  and 
after  debate  the  further  consideration  thereof  was  referred  over 
to  March  meeting. 

The  request  of  Russell  Sturgis  Esq.  that  the "  Town  would 
lease  to  him  Deer  island  for]  the  purpose  of  erecting  Salt  works 
having  been  read  and  considered 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  are  hereby  authorized  and  im- 
powered  to  lease  Deer  Island  in  part  or  in  whole  for  such  sum 
and  such  a  term  not  exceeding  twelve  years  as  they  may  judge 
proper. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1803.  137 

Matters  unfinished  referred  to  next  Town  meeting. 

On  motion  voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  town  be  given  to  Joseph 
Russell  Esq  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator  of  this  meeting. 

Then  the  meeting  was  Dissolved. 


1803. 

[318.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  town  of  Boston  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Friday  21  Janu- 
ary AD  1803.  10  "Clock  AM. 

Warrant  for  calling  meeting        Read 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 
chosen  Moderator  of  this  meeting  by  a  hand  vote. 

The  article  in  the  warrant  relative  to  the  Security  of  the  Town 
from  fires,  together  with  the  petition  of  a  number  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants for  calling  the  meeting  read  and  considered,  whereupon 

Voted  unanimously  that  twelve  citizens  be  chosen  one  from 
each  ward  who  with  the  Selectmen  shall  until  the  first  day  of  May 
next  have  full  power  and  authority  to  adopt  such  measures  as  to 
them  may  appear  necessary  and  expedient  the  better  to  secure 
the  town  against  damage  from  fire  ;  and  the  inhabitants  hereby 
pledge  themselves  to  the  Committee  and  to  each  other  that  they 
will  promptly  and  without  delay  conform  to  the  rules  and  regula- 
tions which  said  Committee  may  from  time  to  time  propose  to 
enable  them  to  effect  the  object  of  their  appointment  —  and  the 
following  Gentlemen  were  chosen  as  a  Committee  from  the  several 
Wards  agreeable  to  the  above  vote  Viz. 

Cap*  Bray  for  Ward  -     _     -     - N°  1 

CoP  Gardner          " 2 

Thomas  Lewis       " 3 

Josiah  Vose            "-- 4 

Mr.  Mitchell  Lincoln    " _     .     .  5 

Isaiah  Doane  Esq  " 6 

James  Prince  Esq  " '7 

Mr.  David  Bradlee        " 8 

Arnold  Welles  Esq" 9 

General  Winslow  " 10 

Cap*  Daniel  Messenger 11 

Amasa  Davis  Esq 12 

also  voted  that  in  case  of  any  vacancy  the  said  Committee  are  to 
fill  up  said  vacancy 

Voted  that  the  Representatives  of  the  Town  be  directed  to  use 
their  endeavours  in  the  General  Court  to  obtain  such   a  revision 


138  City  Document  No.  115. 

and  alteration  of  the  law  regulating  buildings  [219]  That  all 
buildings  exceeding  ten  feet  in  height  shall  be  built  wholly  of 
brick  or  stone  except  such  parts  as  may  be  necessary  for  doors  or 
windows,  and  covered  with  Slate  Tile  or  other  non-combustible 
composition 

On  motion  voted  that  as  the  Town  have  witnessed  the  caution, 
prudence  and  discretion  of  the  Firewards  in  the  late  distressing 
scenes  which  have  fallen  on  this  metropolis  —  the  Thanks  of  the 
town  be  given  to  them  —  and  that  they  may  be  assured  that  the 
town  will  afford  them  all  the  support  necessary  to  such  important 
usefulness 

Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Joseph  Russell 
Esq  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public  town 
meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  26  January 
AD  1803,  10  oclock  AM 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting  Read. 

Joseph  Russell  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  vote. 

The  petitions  relative  to  a  new  Bridge,  and  a  permanent  wharf 
were  read  and  after  debate  had  thereon 

Voted  that  the  Representatives  of  this  Town  be  instructed  to 
request  of  the  Legislature  now  in  session  a  reference  of  the  ap- 
plication now  before  them  for  a  bridge  or  wharves  from  South 
end  to  Dorchester  point  until  the  next  session  of  the  Legislature, 
also 

Voted  that  Mr.  Josi^.  Snelling  Ward   N°  1 

Cap*.  Rhodes  "       N°  2 

Col°.  John  May  "  3 

William  Mackay  "  4 

Thomas  Edwards  Esq  5 

Hon^i^  John  C  Jones  6 

Hon^^®.  Benj^.  Austin  Jr  7 

Cap*.  .John  Brazier  8 

Cap'.  Nath'.  P'ellowes  9 

Joseph  Russell  Esq.  10 

Gen^  Winslow  11 

Josiah  Knapp  12 

[320.]  be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  subject  of   the  Bridge 
proposed  from  the  South  part  of  the  town  to  Dorchester  and  also 


Boston  Town  Records,  1803.  139 

the  petition  of  Edward  Tuclcerman  and  others  for  liberty  to  build 
a  wharf  to  the  Channel  —  and  to  report  their   opinion    to   the 
Town  at  the  next  March  meeting- 
Then  the  meetino;  was  dissolved. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  Dublic  town 
meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  31  Jany  A°  D' 
1803. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting         Read 

The  article  in  the  warrant  was  Read,  as  well  as  the  petition  for 
calling  the  meeting  and  after  some  debate  a  motion  was  made  and 
carried  that  this  meeting  be  adjourned  to  the  Old  South  Church 

The  consideration  of  the  article  was  then  taken  up  and  after 
large  debate  the  Question  was  put  viz  whether  the  vote  passed 
the  21®*.  instant  viz  "That  all  buildings  exceeding  ten  feet  in 
hight  shall  be  built  wholly  of  brick  or  Stone  except  such  parts  as 
may  be  necessary  for  doors  and  windows,  and  covered  with  slate 
tile  or  other  non- combustible  composition"  shall  be  reconsidered, 
it  passed  in  the  negative  by  a  considerable  majority  —  It  was  then 
moved  and  voted  that  our  Representatives  be  instructed  to  pro- 
cure an  exemption  in  the  bill  now  before  the  Legislature  for  such 
persons  as  before  the  said  twenty  first  day  of  January  had  con- 
tracted or  provided  materials  for  erecting  such  buildings. 

Then  the  meetina;  was  dissolved 


[331.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  pub- 
lic Town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the 
second  day  of  March  AD  1803.  at  10  "Clock  AM  — 

Warrant  for  calling  a  meeting  was         Read 

David  Tilden  Esq  was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  vote 

The  article  in  the  warrant  relative  to  the  list  of  qualified  voters 
was  read  whereupon 

Voted  that  the  following  Gentlemen  be  a  Committee  to  receive 
correct  and  complete  the  list  of  qualified  voters  in  their  respective 
wards,  who  are  to  report  the  same  to  the  Selectmen,  Viz 


140  City  Document  No.  115. 

Josiali  Snelling  Samuel  Lord  &  Amos  Binney  -     -  Ward  N°    1 

Thomas  Lewis  Col°.  Edward  Proctor  John  May     -  "3 

Josiah  Vose,  Cap*.  Benj^.  Smith  Darius  Boardman  -  "4 

Jacob  Rhoades,  Col°.  Gardner  John  Truman     -     -  '         "         2 

Mitchel  Lincoln,  John  "W.  Folsom  Samuel  Sturgis     -  "5 

Isaiah  Doane,  Jacob  Eustis,  Samuel  Snelling     -     -  "         6 

Cap*.  Prince,  Sam^.  Parkman,  B  Austin,  Samuel")  ^^         „ 

Sumner  Josiah  Bacon  S  Shaw  J 

Cap*.  Brazier,  Dr.  Nath^  Noyes  David  Bradlee     -  "8 
Arnold  Welles    Esq.    Nath^.    Fellows    Esq   Edm<^. 

Bowman  ' '          "         9 

Gen^  Winslow,  G  Blanchard,  Samuel  Hewes     -     -  "       10 

Samuel  Sweet,  Gen^  Donnison,  Henry  Vose      -     -  "11 

W  Brown  Esq  Cap*.  Wheeler,  CoP.  Davis  Henry  \  ^^       .^ 

Bass,  Uriah  Cotton,  Josiah  Knapp  j 

A  list  of  names  for  Jury  Boxes  was  laid  before  the  Town,  and 
being  approved,  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  were  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee for  the  purpose  of  regulating  the  Jury  Boxes. 

Voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  David  Tilden 
Esq.  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator. 

Then  the  Meeting;  was  dissolved. 


[233.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
pubhc  town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the 
14**^  day  of  March  Anno  Domini  1803  9  °Clock  AM. 

Prayer  was  made  by  Rev*^.  Doctr.  Howard. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting  was         Read. 

Sunday  laws  to  be  read  at  this  meeting  were  accordingly  read 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 
was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  vote 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
votes  for  a  Town  Clerk  and  the  same  having  been  brought  in  & 
counted  it  appeared  that  William  Cooper  Esq.  was  chosen  Town 
Clerk  for  the  year  ensuing,  and  the  oath  of  office  was  adminis- 
tered to  him  by  Mr.  Justice  Bulfinch 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  bring  in  their  votes  for  nine 
Selectmen  and  the  same  being  brought  in  counted  and  assorted  it 
appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen  Viz*. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1803. 


141 


Charles  Bulfinch  Esq 
David.  Tilden  Esq 
Russell  Sturgis  Esq 
Cap*.  Joseph  Howard 
Jon* 


Mr.  William  Porter 
Wm  Sherburne  Esq 
Mr.  John  Tileston 
Mr.  Ebenr.  Oliver 
Hunnewell  Esq 


[333.]     The  votes  being  brought  in   for  twelve  overseers  of 
the  poor  it  appeared  that 


Edward  Proctor  Esq 
Mr.  Edward  Edes 
Henry  Hill  Esq 
William  Smith  Esq 
William  Phillips  Esq 
Stephen  Gorham  Esq 
were  chosen  Overseers  of  the 


Mr.  Oliver  Brewster 
Dr.  Redford  Webster 
Thomas  Perkins  Esq 
Stephen  Codman  Esq 
Mr.  Samuel  Snelling 
Mr.  Benj*.  Goddard 
Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing;. 


The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  votes  for  twenty  four  Fire- 
wards,  when  it  appeared  that 


Thomas  Melvill 
Mr.  Edward  Edes 
Amasa  Davis  Esq 
Samuel  Parkman  Esq 
Henry  Jackson  Esq 
William  Scollay  Esq 
Joseph  May  Esq 
Cap*.  Rob*  Gardner 
John  May  Esq 
William  Brown  Esq 
Samuel  Bradford  Esq 
Joseph  Head 
were  chosen  Fire  wards  for 


Thomas  H  Perkins  Esq 
John  Winslow  Esq 

[334.]  Cap*  Joseph  Howard 
Mr  Benjamin  Joy 
Stephen  Codman  Esq 
Andrew  Cunningham  Esq 
Mr.  John  Bray 
Mr.  Thomas  Dennie 
General  Elhot 
Rufus  G.  Amory  Esq. 
Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esq. 
Cap*  Daniel  Messinger 

the  year  ensuing 


Voted,  that  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  twelve  persons  be  now 
chosen  a  School  Committee  and  the  votes  being  brought  in  it 
appeared  that  the  following  gentlemen  were  chosen  viz 

Hon  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 
Dr  Thomas  Walsh 
Rev  Joseph  Eckley  D  D 
Rev  Jno  T  Kirkland 
Dr.  Aaron  Dexter 
William  Smith  Esq. 
Arnold  Welles  Jr  Esq 
Edward  Gray  Esq 
David  Greene  Esq 
Josiah  Quincy  Esq 
Rev*^  William  Emmerson 
John  Phillips  Esq. 


Voted  that  the  above  named  Gentlemen  who  conjunctly  with 


142         .  City  Document  No.  115. 

the  Selectmen  are  termed  the  School  committee  be  and  hereby  are 
directed  to  carry  the  new  system  of  education  which  has  been 
adopted  by  the  town  into  operation ;  and  said  Committee  are  also 
authorized  and  empowered  conjunctly  [235]  to  manage  and 
regulate  the  Officers  and  the  government  of  the  Schools,  and  in 
future  to  regulate  all  the  power  relative  to  the  Schools  and  School- 
masters which  the  Selectmen  or  such  Committees  were  authorized 
by  the  laws  of  this  Commonwealth  or  the  Town  to  exercise,  any 
former  votes  of  the  Town  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding 

Votes  were  brought  in  for  a  Town  Treasurer  and  collector,  but 
there  being  no  choice,  On  motion  four  o  clock  P  M  was  assigned 
for  the  choice. 

Mr.  Benjamin  White 
Moses  Ayres 
Daniel  lugersol  Jun"^. 
William  Darricott 
were  chosen  Fence  viewers  for  the  year  ensuing 

Votes  for  a  Treasurer  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  brought  in 
and  counted  by  the  Moderator  &  Town  Clerk  when  it  appeared 
that  the  whole  number  [was]  272,  all  of  which  were  for  Ebenezer 
Seaver  Esq  a  discreet  suitable  person  and  a  Freeholder  and 
Resident  in  said  County. 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  a  Town  Advocate  for  the 
Municipal  Court  it  appeared  that  John  Phillips  Esq.  was  chosen 

Ajourned  to  3  "Clock,  P  M  — 
Town  met  at  three  Oclock  P  M  — 

Messrs.  Barney  Conner 
William  Wheeler 
were  chosen  Hogreeves  for  the  year  ensuing 

Messrs.  Barney  Conner 
Wilham  Wheeler 
were  chosen  Hay  wards  for  the  year  ensuing 

[236.]  Messrs.  Jeffry  Richardson 

Samuel  Emmons 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Hemp  for  the  year  ensuing 

Messrs.  Edward  Tuckerman 
Edward  Edes 
were  chosen  Sun^eyors  of  Wheat  for  the  year  ensuing 

Messrs.  John  Welles 

William  C  Hunneman 
were  chosen  Assay  masters  for  the  year  ensuing 


Boston  Town  Records,  1803.  143 

Messr.  Roger  Bartlett 

Jonathan  Gushing 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Dry  Fish  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Henry  Purkett 
Lemuel  Gardner 
Thomas  Barber 
James  Eunson 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  hoops  &  staves  for  the  year  ensuing 

The  Selectmen 
were  chosen  surveyors  of  the  highways  for  the  year  ensuing 

Mr.  Edward  Rumney,  was  chosen  Inspector  of  Stone  Lime  for 
the  year  ensuing 

Messrs.  Joshua  Bentley 

James  Blake 

William  Clouston 

John  Butterfield 

Benjamin  White 

John  Cogswell 

William  Darricott 

Benjamin  Page 

William  Ellison 
[337.]  Daniel  Ingersoll 

Samuel  Treat 

Thomas  Stutson 
Tfere  chosen  Sui'veyors  of  Boards  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Voted  that  the  Hon^^^.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 

Samuel  Brown  Esq 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  audit  the  accounts 
of  the  late  Town  Treasurer  and  also  the  acco*®.  of  the  Selectmen 
Overseers  of  the  poor  &  Board  of  health  and  said  Committee  are 
also  directed  to  report  the  sums  necessary  to  be  raised  for  the  ser- 
vices of  the  present  year 

Votes  for  a  Town  Treasurer  &  Collector  of  Taxes  were  again 
brought  in  and  upon  counting  and  assorting  the  same  it  appeared 
that,  Mr.  Benjamin  Sumner  was  chosen. 

The  petition  of  the  Wood  wharfingers  "  That  the  Law  which 
restricts  them  from  carrying  more  than  four  feet  of  Wood  in  their 
Carts,  may  'be  repealed  "  was  read,  and  after  debate  had  thereon 
it  was  moved  &  voted  that 

G-en^  Winslow 
Chas^  Paine  Esq 
Jon^.  Hunnewell  Esq 


144  City  Document  No.  115. 

be  a  committee  to  confer  with  the  Wharfingers  and  report  thereon 
at  the  adjournment 

The  application  of  a  nu-mber  of  the  Inhabitants  of  West  Bos- 
ton was  read,  Whereupon  Voted  that  the  consideration  of  their 
request  that  a  new  writing   and   grammar  school  may   be  estab 
lished  in  that  part  of  the  Town  be  referred  to  the  School  Com- 
mittee, they  to  report  thereon  at  the  adjournment 

On  motion  Voted  that  this  meeting  be  adjourned  to  Wednesday 
23*^.  inst.  10  °Clock  AM  then  to  meet  in  this  place.  . 

Adjourned  accordingly. 

[3^8.]  The  Town  met  according  to  adjournment  March  23*^. 
1803,  at  10  °Clock  AM.  — 

Voted  that  the  consideration  of  all  money  matters  be  referred 
over  to  next  May  meeting 

The  School  Committee  on  the  petition  of  a  number  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  West  Boston  for  an  additional  school  —  Report 
that  having  considered  the  petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  West 
Boston  for  an  additional  school  they  unanimously  recommend 
that  a  reading  and  writing  School  should  be  established  in  some 
convenient  place  at  West  Boston,  so  situated  however  as  that  it 
shall  likewise  accommodate  those  who  live  near  the  centre  of  the 
town "  which  Report  having  been  read  and  considered  it  was 
voted  that  the  same  be  accepted  —  Also 

Voted  that  the  said  Committee  be  empower'd  to  procure  by 
purchase  or  otherwise  a  suitable  piece  of  land  whereon  to  erect  a 
School  house  as  proposed  by  the  Inhabitants  of  Ward  N°  7  and 
that  they  proceed  to  build  said  school  house  and  to  establish  a 
writing  and  English  grammar  school  with  all  convenient  speed. 

■  The  Committee  on  the  petition  of  the  Woodwharfingers  Re- 
port, That  having  attended  to  that  duty  they  are  of  opinion  that 
the  clause  of  the  By-law  complained  of  by  the  Petitioners  operates 
a  hardship  upon  them  and  that  the  same  ought  to  be  so  altered  as 
that  the  Woodwharfingers  &  Truckmen  should  be  at  liberty  to 
carry  on  their  carts  or  Trucks  at  any  season  of  the  year  a  load 
not  exceeding  six  feet  of  Cord  or  Fire  wood,  reserving  to  the 
Selectmen  the  power  of  restricting  them  to  carry  not  more  than 
four  feet  of  green  wood  at  one  time  during  such  [329]  part  of 
the  Spring  of  every  year  as  the  Selectmen  shall  deem  necessary 
for  the  preservation  of  the  Streets  lanes  and  alleys  of  the  town 
and  shall  limit,  and  give  notice  thereof  in  any  public  newspaper 
printed  in  the  town  of  Boston,  they  the  said  Selectmen  to  have 
power  to  vary,  enlarge,  or  diminish  such  restriction  as  they  may 
judge  proper 

John  Winslow,  Chairman. 


Boston  Town  Recoeds,  1803.  145 

The  above  Report  having  been  read  &  considered  the  question 
was  put  viz  whether  this  report  shall  be  accepted ;  passed  in  the 
affirmative 

Voted  that  all  matters  which  shall  remain  unfinished  at  this 
meeting  be  referred  over  for  consideration  to  May  meeting 

Voted  that  the  thanks  of  this  meeting  be  given  to  Joseph  Rus- 
sell Esq.  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
of  twenty  one  years  of  age  &  upwards  qualified  as  the  Constitu- 
tion prescribes  and  legally  warned  in  public  town  meeting  assem- 
bled at  Faneuil  hall  on  Wednesday  the  fourth  day  of  April  Anno 
Domini  1803  11  oClock  AM  — 

Prayer  made  by  Rev'^.  Samuel  Stilman  DD 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting         Read. 

[330.]  Paragraph  of  the  Constitution  or  frame  of  Grovern- 
ment  relative  to  the  choice  of  Governor  &  L*.  Governor  & 
Senators         Read 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  vote  should  be 
received  but  such  as  were  unfolded  and  that  they  propose  the 
poll  should  be  closed  at  three  o'clock  PM,  the  votes  to  be  received 
at  the  table  and  the  bells  to  begin  ringing  ^  past  two  o'clock  and 
to  continue  for  half  an  hour 

Persons  voted  for  as  Governor  with  the  number  of  votes  for 
each  person  viz 

Votes 

His  Excellency  Caleb  Strong  Esq  1864 

Honorable  Elbridge  Gerry  Esq.  881 

Persons  voted  for  as  Lieu.  Governor  with  the  number  of  votes 
for  each  person  Viz 

Hon''^''.  Edward  Hutchinson  Robinson  Esq      1661 
Hon^^®.  James  Bowdoin  Esq.  1093 

Persons  voted  for  as  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  with 
the  number  of  votes  for  each  person  viz 

Votes 

Hon'^i^  Oliver  Wendell  Esq  2735 

Hon^i^  William  Tudor  Esq  1680 

Hon^i^  John  C  Jones  Esq  1698 


146  City  Document  No.  115. 

John  Codman  Esq  1679 

Hon^i«.  Jonathan  Mason  J:sq  1653 

Hon^i^  James  Bowdoin  Esq  1036 

Hon^^^.  Benjamin  Austin  Esq  1076 

David  Tilden  Esq  1078 

Nathaniel  Fellowes  Esq  1056 

Samuel  Brown  Esq  5 

William  Smith  Esq  28 

Charles  Jarvis  Esq  19 

Theophilus  Parsons  Esq  12 

[331.]  Attested  Copies  of  the  persons  voted  for  as  Gov- 
ernor Lt  Governor  &  Senators  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  sealed  up 
in  Town  meeting  (after  the  votes  had  been  declared)  and  trans- 
mitted to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  superscribed  as 
follows 

For  John  Avery  Esq 
Sec^  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts 

The  number  of  Votes  of  the  Town  of  Boston  for  Governor, 
Lieu*.  Governor  &  five  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  certified 
within  &  sealed  up  in  town  meeting. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[333.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Boston  of  twenty  one  years  of  age  and  upwards  qualified  as  the 
Constitution  prescribes  &  legally  warned  in  public  town  meeting 
assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  eleventh  day  of  May 
Anno  Domini  1803  11  ^Clock  A  M 

Prayer  made  by  Rev"^.     [Blank] 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting     [Read] 

That  part  of  the  Constitution  or  frame  of  Government  which 
relates  to  the  choice  of  Representatives     [Read] 

The  town  having  determined  by  a  vote  to  choose  seven  persons 
to  represent  them  in  the  general  Court  of  Massachusetts  to  be 
holden  in  the  State  house  in  Boston  on  the  last  Wednesday  of 
May  current  agreeable  to  the  constitution  or  frame  of  Govern- 
ment for  Massachusetts,  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  by  the 
Selectmen  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their  votes  for  seven  Repre- 
sentatives and  then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  votes 
would  be  received  by  the  Selectmen  but  such  as  are  unfolded, 
and  until  the  Persons  entering  shall  be  marked  on  the  list  by  the 
Gentlemen,  who  assist  for  that  purpose,  from  the  several  Wards, 
and  that  they  propose  the  poll  shall  be  closed  at  ^  past  two 


Boston  Town  Records,  1803.  147 

o'clock,  the  Bells  to  begin  tolling  at  two  o'clock  and  to  continue 
until  an  half  hour,  is  expired 

The  votes  being  brought  in  for  seven  Representatives  the  whole 
number  of  the  same  was  found  to  be  2,060,  and  upon  assorting 
them  it  appeared  that  the  following  seven  Gentlemen  had  obtained 
a  majority  of  Votes  Viz 

[333.]         Honble  Harrison  Gray  Otis  Esq  1175 

John  Lowell  Esq  1152 

Samuel  Parkman  Esq.  1163 

Jonathan  Hunnewell  2031 

Wilham  Smith  Esq.  1208 

William  Brown  Esq.  1197 

John  Phillips  Esq.  1243 

The  votes  given  for  such  as  did  not  obtain  were  for 

Hon  James  Bowdoin  Esq  _  -  .  873 

David  Tilden  Esq    -  -  -  -  875 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq  .  -  .  884 

Abiel  Smith  Esq      -  -  -  -  905 

Nathaniel  Fellows  Esq  -  -  -  842 

Charles  Paine  Esq  -  -  -  -  815 

The   choice   of   Representatives  being  over   &   declared  by  the 
Selectmen, 

Then,  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  pubhc  Town 
meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the  twelfth  day 
of  May  Anno  Domini  1803  at  10  o'clock  AM.— 

"Warrant  for  calhng  the  meeting         Read 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 
was  chosen  Moderator  of  this  meeting  by  a  hand  vote 

On  motion,  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  bring  in  their  votes 
for  three  Selectmen,  and  half  past  eleven  o'clock  assigned  for 
closing  the  Poll. 

On  counting  the  votes  it  appeared  that  the  whole  number  was 
523  —  and  that  the  following  [334-]  Gentlemen  were  chosen  Viz*. 

John  May  Esq.  428  votes 

Francis  Wright  Esq.  428     " 

Jonathan  Chapman  Esq.  428     " 

The  following  Gentlemen  are  added  to  Selectmen  who  conjunctly 
are  to  manage  &  lease  the  lands  on  Boston  neck,  by  a  unanimous 
vote.  Viz 


148  City  Document  No.  115. 

Hon^^''.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  William  Brown  Esq. 

"       AVilliam  Tudor  Esq.  Mr.  Joseph  Knapp 

John  Winslow  Esq.  Mr.  Joshua  Davis  Jun"". 

Article  in  the  Warrant  viz  Whether  the  Town  will  impower 
Agents  to  maintain  and  defend  any  suits  that  may  be  brought,  or 
to  compromise  with  the  Proprietors  of  the  Roxbury  Canal,  for  a 
piece  of  Marsh  Land  on  the  neck  claimed  by  them  "  was  read  and 
considered,  whereupon 

Voted  that  the  Agents  for  the  neck  be  and  hereby  are  ap- 
pointed Agents  for  this  purpose 

The  request  of  Isaac  P  Davis  that  he  may  have  a  deed  of  the 
land  on  which  his  Rope  walk  stands  at  the  bottom  of  the  com- 
mon "  was  read  —  Whereupon,  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  and 
hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  confer  with  the  Proprietors 
of  said  Land,  fully  to  consider  this  matter  &  report  to  the  town 
at  the  adjournment. 

The  article  in  the  warrant  viz  whether  the  Town  will  think  it 
expedient  to  become  interested  in  the  proposed  new  Bank,  read 
whereupon  Voted  that 

The  Hon*'^^.  John  C  Jones  Esq 

Harrison  G  Otis  Esq 

Thomas  Dawes  Esq 

John  Codman  Esq 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 

Charles  Bulfinch  Esq 

John  Q  Adams  Esq 
[335]  be  a   Committee  to   consider  this  matter  and  to  report 
thereon  at  the  adjournment  the  23'^  of  May  instant 

On  the  petition  for  an  increase  of  the  present  surveyors  of 
Board  &  shingles,  it  was  voted  that  two  more  persons  should  be 
added  to  the  present  number  of  surveyors,  and  the  choice  of  this 
addition  referred  to  the  adjournment 

The  Committee  to  consider  the  expediency  of  reconsidering  a 
former  vote  of  the  town  for  building  a  bridge  from  the  South  part 
of  the  town  to  Dorchester,  and  also  the  Petition  of  Edward 
Tuckerman  and  others  for  leave  to  build  a  wharf  at  the  South  part 
of  the  Town  on  Towns  land  —  Report,  That  having  attended  the 
business  assigned  them  and  heard  the  several  parties,  are  fully  in 
opinion  that  the  erection  of  a  Bridge  from  the  South  part  of 
Boston  to  Dorchester  would  be  very  injurious  to  the  interest  of 
the  Town,  they  therefore  recommend  a  reconsideration  of  a  former 
vote  of  the  Town,  granting  leave  to  the  Petitioners  for  that  pur- 
pose—  That  it  is  fully  the  opinion  of  the  Committee  (as  they 
consider  no  real  advantage  can  be  derived  from  it  to  the  Town) 


Boston  Town  Recoeds,  1803.  149 

that  the  prayer  of  the  Petitioners  for  leave  to  build  a  wharf  on 
the  Towns  land  should  not  be  granted. 

Per  Order  Josiah  Snelling  Chairman 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  &  considered  the  Ques- 
tion was  put  whether  said  Report  shall  be  accepted  —  passed  in 
the  affirmative 

Voted  that  the  other  matters  in  the  warrant  not  acted  upon  be 
referred  to  the  adjournment  and  that  the  Inhabitants  be  informed 
of  the  same  and  of  the  business  then  to  be  acted  upon  —  and  the 
meeting  is  adjourned  to  Monday  the  twenty  third  day  of  May 
instant,  10  °Clock  A  M 

[336.]  Monday  the  twenty  third  day  of  May  at  ten  o'clock 
A  M  the  Town  met  according  to  adjournment 

The  inhabitants  having  brought  in  their  votes  for  2  surveyors 
of  boards  it  appeared  that 

Mr.  Nathaniel  Bradlee  Jun'". 

Nehemiah  Doggett  Jun''.  were  chosen. 


'oo^ 


The  Committee  to  audit  the  Town  Treasurers  Acco*^^  and  also 
to  examine  the  accounts  of  the  late  Treasurer  &  to  balance  his 
Books,  Report  —  that  they  find  the  late  Treasurer  Samuel  Clap 
Esq.  charges  the  Town  with  monies  paid  from  May  to  September 
1802  as  follows 

To  overseers  drafts 7092.34 

To  Selectmens  d°       .-.--.-.       19908.30 
To  Board  of  healths  drafts 1653.50 

28654.14 
To  Samuel  Brown  Esq.  balance  of  his  Acc° 

for  New  alms  house 23533.32 

To  ditto  agreeable  to  a  vote  of  the  town  800. 

To  Thomas  Dawes  d° 800. 

To  estate  of  G  R  Minot  Esq.  dec*^.    -     -     -  800. 

To  amount  of  Interest  paid  since  May  last  1640.88 

$56228.34 


The  late  Treasurer  also  credits  the  town  By  old  )    ^onoi  or 

acc°.  for  balance  ^2oZ6i.6b. 

By  cash  received  of  Treas''.  Commonwealth  to  sup-  ] 

port  the  State  poor J      ^'^^-^^ 

By  amount  of  rents  received      ----.-.  815.50 

By  William  Gooch  at  sundry  times 137.40 

By  Abel  Wild  being  an  error  in  a  draft  of  June  last  100. 

By  a  fine  of  J  W  Bayles  by  order  of  the  Selectmen  50. 


0 


28,126.64,5 
By  balance  due  to  the  Town 28,101.69,5 

$56,228.34 


150  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  Committee  further  find  the  following  Statement  as  the  Trial 
balance  in  the  late  Treasurer  acc°*^  Books,  viz 

[337.]  Wherein  he  charges  to  Towns  Powder      -     -     1041.94.5 

To  notes  receiveable 754.13. 

To  Andrew  Tewksbury 127.51 

To  estate  of  James  Thompson     -------        645.78 

To  Benjamin  Henderson 4868.96 

To  Christopher  Marshall 7883.31 

To  Benjamin  Jepson 9826.24 

To  Thomas  Bayley 7777.58 

30358.9 

To  Cash 26.65 

To  Town  of  Boston 28101.69.5 


$61055.80 


Wherein  he  credits  the  town  of  Boston,  by  notes  payable  viz 

By  Ezekiel  Prices  estate    -     -     -     -£220.15.4 

By  B  Barkers 463.5 

By  Elizabeth  Partridge      -     -     -     -      231.12.6 
By  Selectmen  of  Boston    -     -     -     -      369. 
By  Benjamin  Waldo's  Estate      -     -      800. 

£2084.12.10  Lawfi  M^ 

which  sum  is  equal  in  dollars 6948.80 

By  Union  Bank 53210. 

By  ditto 790. 

By  estate  of  John  Gray    --------  107. 

61055.80 
Boston  September  25,  1802.  signed,  Samuel  Clap. 

The  Committee  also  find  the  aforementioned  drafts  from  the 
Overseers  Selectmen  &  Board  of  Health  to  have  been  paid  & 
receipted  for,  and  they  appear  to  be  well  vouched  and  right  cast, 
all  which  will  more  fully  appear  from  the  accounts  exhibited  to 
which  reference  wiU  be  had 

Thomas  Dawes  )    p 
Samuel  Bi'own    >-       -f+pp 
Joseph  Russell ) 

The  Committee  appointed  to  audit  the  Acco*^  of  the  late  Town 
Treasurer  Mr  Storer,  Overseers  of  the  poor  &  Board  of  health 
and  the  sum  necessary  to  be  raised  the  present  year.     Report. 

[238.]  The  town  of  Boston  as  Dr  to  Ebenezer  Storer 
Treasurer  and  Collector  from  October  1802  to  March  1803  in 
Acc°. 


Boston  Tow:n  Records,  1803. 


151 


To  Union  Bank  in  part  Notes 14000.— 

"  Ditto  for  interest 1893.26 

Interest  on  a  Town  Note  -     -     -  73.80 


To  Thomas  Edwards  on  Thompsons  debt  -     -     - 

1967.6 
16.45 

"  Counterfeit  Bills  received  of  Persons  ") 
unknown                                                  J 

75. 

"  Ebenezer  Seaver  County  Treasurer 

11380.92 

Jon*.  Jackson  Esq  State  Treasurer 

9412. 

36851.43 

To  Selectmens  drafts  N°  1     -     -     -         3140.4 

Ditto                "              2                          2750.27 

Ditto               "             3                         5635.59 

Ditto                "              4                          5968.62 

Ditto                "              5                          1853.80 

Ditto               "             6                         7009.1 

Ditto                "              7                            405.60 

To  Peter  Jarvis 2. 

deduct  abatem*.  in  N°  3 


26764.93 
3 

26761.93 


To  Overseers  Drafts  N°  1.  3789.24 

"  D° 2  1115.33 

D° 3  673.76 

D° 4  1480.11 

D° 5  927.  1 

D° 6  1648.31 


To  Board  of  health  N° 

1. 

517.16 

D°  -     - 

■     -      N° 

2 

516.14 

D°  -     - 

■     - 

3 

712.85 

9633.76 


1746.15 


To  balance  in  the  Treasury 


38141.84 
3109.25 

78,102.52 


Cr  Prem"™. 

By  tax  cancelled  5  pr  ct  55,527.68  2776.40  52751.28 

ditto               3prct  6538.75  196.14  6342.61 

ditto               2prct  1619.81  32.36  1587.45 


63686.24        3004.90      60681.34 


152                       City  Document  No.  115. 

[239.]     By  Cash  of  Collectors  viz 

Benjamin  Henderson     -     -  2945.78 

Christopher  Marshall     -     -  3595.59 

Benjamin  Jepson       -     -     -  5434.97 

Thomas  Bayley    -     -     -     .  4460.94 


16,437,28 
By  estate  of  James  Thompson 645.78 

By  William  Grant,  Rent  of  Stalls  -     -     -  100. 

By  Benj".  White  d°  of  Market  -     -     -     -  20. 

By  George  Trott  Hay  weigher  -     -     -     -  218.12  338.12 

78,102.52 

Here  follows  a  trial  balance  March  14,1808,  taken  from  the  Books 
of  Eben''.  Storer  late  Treasurer  and  Collector  with  this  mem°. 
The  above  balance  of  3109.25/100.  was  paid  to  Benjamin  Sum- 
ner the  new  Treasurer  April  12,  1803,  and  the  Chest  with  the 
books  and  papers  were  delivered  to  him 

The  Committee  find  the  aforementioned  drafts  from  the  Over- 
seers Selectmen  &  Board  of  health  to  have  been  paid  &  receipted 
for.  and  they  appear  to  be  well  vouched  and  right  cast,  all  which 
will  more  fully  appear  from  the  accounts  exhibited,  and  from  the 
books  and  papers  with  the  chest,  and  balance  of  three  thousand 
one  hundred  &  nine  dollars  and  twenty  five  cents  delivered  over 
to  Mr.  Benjamin  Sumner  the  present  Treasurer,  April  12,  1803. 

Thomas  Dawes  ^ 
Joseph  Russell  >-  Committee 
Samuel  Brown  ) 

There  was  annexed  to  the  above  Report  an  estimate  of  appro- 
priation for  the  present  year  together  with  several  suggestions  for 
the  consideration  of  the  Town  which  will  more  fully  appear  by 
said  Report,  which  having  been  distinctly  read  —  after  some 
debate  —  the  question  was  put  viz.  whether  these  Reports  shall 
be  accepted  by  the  Town,  and  it  passed  in  the  affirmative 

[340.]  Voted  that  the  sum  of  Eighty  eight  thousand  dollars 
be  raised  by  a  tax  to  be  assessed  on  the  Polls  and  estates  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  town  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  current 
year. 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  Six  hundred  &  sixty  six  dollars  be 
allowed  &  paid  unto  William  Cooper  for  his  services  as  Town 
Clerk  the  ensuing  year,  the  same  to  be  paid  him  quarterly  as  it 
shall  become  due  and  to  commence  the  first  of  March  last. 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  Three  himdred  dollars  be  allowed  to  John 
Phillips  Esq.  for  his  services  as  Town  Advocate  the  year  ensu- 
ino;. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1803.  153 

Voted,  That  the  Hon"'i^  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 

Charles  Jarvis  Esq. 

James  Prince  Esq. 

General  Winslow 
be  a  Committee  for  the  purpose  of  enquiring  generally  into  the 
state  of  the    affairs  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  from  the  time  the 
County  of  Norfolk  was  taken  off  and  to  report  as  soon   as  may 
be,  and  also  what  savings  may  be  made. 

On  the  Report  of  the  Committee  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
the  Town  being  interested  in  the  proposed  Bank 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  together  with  the  Town  Treasurer  & 
the  County  Treasurer  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee 
to  confer  with  the  Trustees  of  the  proposed  new  Bank  to  obtain 
their  consent  that  a  right  should  be  secured  to  the  Town  to  sub- 
scribe at  any  future  period  to  the  said  Institution  a  sum  not  ex- 
ceeding Two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  to  agree  upon  such 
terms  of  Subscription  as  to  them  may  appear  for  the  interest  of 
the  Town 

[341.]  The  Committee  relative  to  the  Ropewalks  not  having 
been  able  to  make  report,  it  was  moved  and  voted  that  the 
Gentlemen  Selectmen  together  with  the  Honorable  Thomas  Dawes 
Esq.  Mr.  Josiah  Knapp  Joseph  Russell  Esq.  Mr.  Ebenezer 
Larkin  &  Deacon  Brown  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee with  full  powers  to  effect  a  settlement  with  the  Proprietors 
of  the  Ropewalks,  and  to  give  them  deeds  of  the  Lands  on  which 
they  stand  either  upon  the  terms  originally  conditioned  by  the 
town  or  on  such  others  as  in  their  opinion  will  be  for  the  Interest 
&  advantage  of  the  town.  — 

The  article  in  the  warrant  viz.  "  "What  measures  shall  be  taken 
for  the  disposal  and  management  of  the  Old  State  House,  was 
read,  and  on  motion  Voted  that  the  Committee  chosen  in  the 
several  Wards  in  April  last  to  assist  the  Assessors,  be  appointed 
a  Committee  to  consider  this  article  in  the  warrant,  and  to  report 
their  opinion  thereon  at  the  Adjournment. 

Then  the  meeting   was  adjourned   to    Monday  the  13*^  of  June 
next  10  "clock  A  M.  — 

Monday  June  13,  1803,  10  oclock  A  M.     The  Town  met  accord- 
ing to  adjournment. 

The  Moderator  being  out  of  Town,  on  motion  the  Hon''^^. 
Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator  pro.  tem.  — 

The  Committee  relative  to  the  Old  State  house  Reported  — 
after  some  debate  it  was  moved  that  the  sense  of  the  Town  be 
taken    as    to   the    expediency    of    leasing   the    same  —  and   the 


154  '  City  Document  No.  115. 

question  being  put  it  passed  in  favour  of  its  being  leased.  The 
report  was  again  [343]  taken  up  amended  and  accepted  by  the 
town,  and  is  as  follows  viz. 

That  in  the  opinion  of  the  Board  of  Assistant  Assessors,  the 
Committee  for  the  jjurpose,  it  would  be  for  the  interest  of  the 
Town  to  lease  the  Old  State  house  for  a  term  of  time  not  less 
than  ten  nor  to  exceed  fifty  years,  and  the  rent  to  be  paid  quar- 
terly or  annually ;  and  that  it  be  a  condition  of  the  Lease  that 
the  house  be  put  into  good  repair  and  kept  so  during  the  term  for 
which  it  may  be  leased  by  and  at  the  expense  of  the  Lessee  and 
shall  be  occupied  for  pubhc  or  private  offices  and  such  other  pur- 
poses only  as  the  Selectmen  for  the  time  being  shall  approve  of, 
and  that  no  alteration  be  made  in  the  external  form  of  the  build- 
ing without  their  approbation  the  Lease  containing  a  clause  pro- 
viding that  if  the  Rent  shall  not  be  punctually  paid,  according  to 
the  terms  of  the  lease,  or  if  the  Lessee  or  Lessees  their  heirs  or 
assigns  shall  not  occupy  the  estate  according  to  the  approbation 
or  orders  of  the  Selectmen  as  before  expressed  ;  or  shall  suffer  it 
to  go  to  waste  for  want  of  repairs,  that  then  the  Selectmen  or  the 
Town  shall  have  a  right  to  reenter,  and  by  the  reentry  to  render 
the  Lease  void  after  such  an  entry  —  providing  however  that  the 
right  of  reentry  be  no  bar  to  an  action  on  the  Lease  against  the 
Lessee  or  Lessees,  their  heirs.  Executors,  Administrators  or 
Assigns  if  the  Town  consider  such  mode  to  be  most  eligible  — 
and  that  it  would  be  best  to  dispose  of  the  lease  at  public  Auction 
"William  Walter  Tristram  Barnard 

Secretary  Chairman 

[243.]  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are 
appointed  Agents  in  behalf  of  the  town  to  carry  the  aforegoing 
Report  into  execution.  — 

The  Committee  relative  to  the  clause  in  the  warrant  respecting 
County  expenses.  Reported  verbally  and  were  desired  to  report 
again  in  writing,  and  that  when  ready  to  report  the  Selectmen  are 
requested  to  call  a  special  meeting  for  the  consideration  of  the 
same.  —  Also,  Voted  that 

Hon''^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 
John  Phillips  Esq. 
be  added  to  said  Committee. 

Moved  &  voted  that  the  consideration  of  the  request  of  the 
Town  Treasurer,  Collector  and  Assessors  for  an  augmentation 
of  their  respective  salaries  be  referred  for  consideration  to  the 
meeting  that  may  be  called  relative  to  County  matters. 

Voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  unto  Joseph 
Russell  Esq.  and  the  Hon''^^.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  for  their  good 
services  in  the  Moderators  chair 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1803.  155 

[344.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
public  Town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the 
fourth  day  of  July  Anno  Domini  1803,  9  oclock  AM 

"Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting Read 

William  Cooper,  chosen  Moderator. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  last  year  to  make  choice  of  a 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  Inde- 
pendence, Reported,  that  they  had  made  choice  of  William  Sulli- 
van Esq.  who  has  accepted  the  appointment. 

On  motion  adjourned  to  Old  South  Church,  where  agreeable  to 
the  information  of  the  Selectmen 

AN   ORATION, 

to  commemorate  the   independence  of    the   United    States    was 
delivered  by  Wilham  Sullivan  Esq.  at  the  Old  South  Church 

On  motion  voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  wait  on 
William  Sullivan  Esq.  and  in  the  name  of  the  Town  to  thank 
him  for  the  elegant  &  spirited  Oration  this  day  delivered  by  him 
at  the  request  of  the  Town  upon  the  Anniversary  of  the  Inde- 
pendence of  the  United  States  of  America  ;  in  which  according  to 
the  Institution  of  the  Town  he  considered  the  feelings,  manners 
&  principles  which  led  to  that  great  national  event,  and  to 
request  a  Copy  thereof  for  the  press 

On  motion  voted  that  the  Gentlemen,  Selectmen  be  and  hereby 
are  appointed  a  Committee  to  apply  to  some  one  able  and  learned 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  fourth  day  of  July  A  D 
1804  that  [345]  Day  being  the  Anniversary  of  the  Independ- 
ence of  the  United  States  of  America  wherein  the  Orator  is  to 
consider  the  feehngs  manners  and  principles  which  led  to  this 
great  national  event ;  as  well  as  the  important  &  happy  effects 
whether  general  or  domestic,  which  have  already,  or  will  forever 
flow  from  that  auspicious  Epoch 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned  in  public  town 
meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  twenty  first 
day  of  December  Anno  Domini  1803  —  10  °Clock  A  M. — 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting         Read 

Hon^^®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  chosen  Moderator  in  the  room  of 
Judge  Sullivan  first  chosen,  who  declined  serving. 


156  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  Committee  relative  to  the  County  of  Suffolk  Reported,  and 
after  considerable  debate  thereon  it  was  moved  &  voted  that 
this  Report  be  printed  and  the  Selectmen  are  requested  to  furnish 
each  of  the  Freeholders  with  one  of  them,  and  that  this  meeting 
be  adjourned  to  next  Monday  week,  10  oclock  A  M,  and  the 
meeting  was  accordingly  adjourned. 


1804. 

The  Town  met  according  to  adjournment,  on  Monday  January 
2^  1804  — at  10  oclock  A  M. 

The  article  in  the  Warrant  relative  to  a  Turnpike  on  the  neck 
on  Lords  days  read  &  debated  [346]  and  the  question  being 
put  whether  it  be  sense  of  the  town  that  a  Turnpike  be  estab- 
lished, it  did  not  obtain 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  to  consider  what  savings  could 
be  made  in  the  County  expences  &c  was  taken  up  and  largely 
debated,  whereupon  motion  was  made  and  the  Question  accord- 
ingly put  viz  Whether  the  Town  will  attempt  to  procure  any 
alteration  in  the  County  &  Town  Grovernment,  which  passed  in 
the  affirmative  by  a  great  majority. — 

It  was  then  moved  &  voted  that  a  Committee  of  Twenty  four 
Gentlemen  [be  appointed],  and  that  two  out  of  each  Ward  be 
chosen  as  the  Committee  to  consider  &  report  on  this  matter, 
and  that  said  Report  be  given  into  the  Selectmen,  and  when  thus 
given  in,  that  the  same  be  printed  &  dispersed  among  the  Inhab- 
itants for  their  information,  and  the  Selectmen  were  desired  to 
call  upon  the  Clerks  of  the  Respective  Wards  to  provide  in  the 
meetings  of  the  Wards  for  that  purpose  — 

Voted  that  any  business  unfinished,  mentioned  in  the  warrant 
be  referred  to  next  general  town  meeting. 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


[347.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned  in 
public  town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the 
16th  day  of  January  Anno  Domini  1804  at  10  oclock  A  M. — 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting         Read 

Mr.  James  Prince 
chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  vote 

On  motion  voted  to  adjourn  this  meeting  to  the  Old  South  Church. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1804.  167 

The  town  being  assembled  at  the  Old  South  Church,  the 
Warrant  for  the  meeting,  Petition  &c  being  read,  after  some 
debate  it  was  moved  &  seconded  That  the  Town  commit  the 
proposal  of  WilHam  Tudor  &  others,  (that  the  Lands  on  Dor- 
chester Neck  be  annexed  to  the  Town  of  Boston  on  certain  con- 
ditions) to  a  Committee  to  be  chosen  for  that  purpose  —  a  debate 
on  this  question  ensued  which  continued  until  two  oclock,  when 
on  motion  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  3  oclock  P.  M. 

At  three  oclock  PM  The  town  met  agreeable  to  adjournment, 
and  the  debate  was  again  taken  up  which  continued  until  6  oclock 
when  on  motion  the  Meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  next  day 
10  oclock  AM. 

January  17.  10  oclock  AM  the  Town  met,  when  the  debate  was 
renewed  and  continued  until  One  oclock  ;  the  question  of  commit- 
ment was  then  taken,  and  it  passed  in  the  negative. 

It  was  then  moved  &  seconded,  That  the  town  will  consent 
that  the  lands  on  Dorchester  neck  agreeable  to  the  Petition  of  the 
Owners  shall  be  annexed  [348]  to  and  incorporated  with  the 
Town  of  Boston  provided  it  can  be  done  on  such  conditions  as 
the  Town  shall  hereafter  agree  to.  The  question  being  accord- 
ingly taken  passed  in  the  affirmative  — 

It  was  then  moved  &  voted  that  a  Committee  be  chosen  in  the 
Wards  consisting  of  two  persons  from  each  Ward  to  consider  the 
conditions  on  which  the  Lands  on  Dorchester  neck  shall  be  an- 
nexed to  and  incorporated  with  the  town  of  Boston,  and  that  the 
Selectmen  be  requested  to  take  measures  to  assemble  the  Wards 
for  this  purpose. 

Adjourned  to  Monday  the  23^^  instant 

Monday  23*^  January  instant  at  10  oclock  AM  The  town  met 
according  to  adjournment,  when  the  Chairman  of  the  Selectmen 
reported  that  the  Inhabitants  of  the  several  Wards  had  met  and 
chosen  the  Committee  agreeable  to  a  vote  of  the  town  of  the 
17*^  instant,  that  the  Committee  had  entered  upon  the  business 
assigned  them  but  were  not  yet  ready  to  make  report  and  pro- 
posed that  the  meeting  should  be  adjourned  to  Monday  the  30th 
instant,  whereupon  voted  that  this  meeting  be  adjourned 
accordingly. 

Monday  January  30,  instant  at  10  oclock,  the  Town  met  ac- 
cording to  adjournment 

The  report  of  the  Committee  chosen  in  the  several  Wards  was 
read,  whereupon  it  was  moved  &  seconded  and  voted  that  this 
report  be  considered  by  paragraphs 


158  City  Document  No.  115.  . 

The  first  paragraph  relative  to  a  Bridge  from  South  Street  was 
read  &  voted  to  be  accepted. 

The  second  paragraph  relative  to  what  shall  be  paid  to  vessells 
passing  up  above  the  bridge  &c  was  read,  and  after  a  long  debate, 
the  Question  whether  the  [*34:9]  same  shall  be  accepted  being 
put  it  was  declared  by  the  Moderator  that  the  same  had  passed  in 
the  affirmative  —  this  Vote  being  doubted  a  division  of  the  house 
was  called  for  on  one  part  and  warmly  opposed  on  the  other 
part  —  the  Moderator  then  put  the  question  called  for  whether  it 
was  [the]  sense  of  the  Town  that  the  house  should  be  divided 
which  was  declared  by  the  Moderator  to  be  in  the  negative  —  As 
it  now  appeared  to  be  impossible  under  the  present  agitation  of 
the  meeting  to  proceed  in  the  consideration  of  the  paragraphs 
Mr.  Otis  propos'd  that  the  terms  and  conditions  —  of  the  pro- 
posed Bridge  from  South  Street  shall  be  referred  to  the  Legislat- 
ure the  Applicants  holding  themselves  pledged  to  the  Town  to 
pay  them  twenty  five  thousand  dollars  or  give  one  half  of  the 
bridge  and  the  streets  and  lots  for  public  accommodations  as 
proposed. 

This  motion  led  to  some  general  conversation  and  the  motion 
was  objected  to  as  out  of  order,  the  debates  and  altercations 
having  continued  until  two  o, clock  there  was  then  a  general  call 
for  an  adjournment  and  the  meeting  was  accordingly  adjourned 
to  Tuesday  10  oclock  AM 

Tuesday  January  31,  10   oclock  AM.     The  town  met   according 
to  adjournment 

It  was  then  moved  &  seconded,  that  the  Votes  taken  yesterday 
upon  the  report  of  the  Committee  be  reconsidered,  and  that  the 
place  from  tohich  and  the  terms  on  vjhich  the  proposed  Bridge 
should  be  built,  shall  be  left  entirely  to  the  Legislature.  The 
Question  being  put  it  passed  almost  unanimously  in  the 
affirmative 

Then  the  meetina;  was  dissolved. 


[350.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned  in 
public  Town  meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday 
the  twenty  ninth  day  of  February  Anno  Domini  1804  at  10 
oclock  AM  — 

Warrant  for  calling  the  meeting         Read 

Hon'''®.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  vote. — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1804.  159 

The  Article  relative  to  filling  up  the  Mill  pond  read  whereupon 
moved  &  carried,  that  this  article  with  the  petition  be  referr'd  to 
a  Committee  who  are  requested  to  take  up  this  matter  at 
large  and  report  at  March  meeting,  but  previous  thereto  to  the 
Selectmen  in  order  to  its  being  printed  for  the  inspection  of  the 
Inhabitants  before  said  meeting  Also 

Voted  that  Hcn*^^.  Thomas  Dawes,  Moderator 
Samuel  Brown  Esq. 
Joseph  Russell  Esq. 
James  Prince 
Judge  Dawes 
be  a  Committee  for  this  purpose. 

The  article  in  the  Warrant  viz  to  consider  the  application  of 
William  Phillips  Esq.  that  his  own  and  the  towns  right  may  be 
ascertained  respecting  a  ten  feet  water  way  leading  from  Water 
Street  to  Kilby  street "  was  read  and  referred  to  said  Committee 
for  consideration  (excepting  Judge  Dawes  who  was  excused)  to 
report  at  March  meeting. — 

Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  town  be  given  to  the  Moderator 
for  his  good  services 

Then  the  meeting  was  dissolved. 


[251.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  pub- 
lic Town  meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  March  12*^  1804. 
10  OClock  A.M. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  Read 

Hon'^^  James  Sullivan  Esq  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  chosen  by  the  Wards  of  the 
Town  to  consider  what  alterations  in  the  County  and  Town 
Govnerment  may  be  necessary  and  to  devise  a  plan  therefor" — 
^v3iS  read  ;   and  after  some  debate 

It  was  moved  and  carried,  that  this  Meeting  be  adjourned  to 
the  2'^  Monday  in  April  next.  10.  oClock  A.M.  and  the  Meeting 
was  accordingly  Adjourned. 

The  second  Monday  of  April,  being  the  9**^  Day  of  April  1804 — 
10  OClock  in  Forenoon  —  Town  met  according  to  Adjournment  — 

The  Report  of  the  Town  Committee  relative  to  a  Plan  for  an 
alteration  in  the  County  and  Town  Government  was  again  read 
by  the  Moderator  —  and  after  considerable  debate  thereon,  it  was 


160  City  Document  No.  115. 

moved  and  the  Question  accordingly  put  —  viz  Whether  this 
Meeting  shall  be  dissolved  —  and  passed  in  the  affirmative  —  the 
decision  of  the  Moderator  being  disputed,  and  a  call  that  the 
Meeting  may  be  divided  —  the  House  was  divided  —  which  very 
fully  manifested,  that  the  Moderator  was  right  in  his  declaration, 
that  the  majority  of  the  Town  were  for  a  dissolution  of  the 
Meeting. 

And  the  Meeting  was  accordingly  dissolved. 


[252.']  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders,  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned, 
in  public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday 
the  19th  Day  of  March  Anno  Domini  1804  9  OClock  A.M. 

Prayer  was  made  by  Rev*.  Dr.  Eliot 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read 

Sundry  Laws  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting  were  accordingly  — 
read 

Joseph  Russell  Esq.  was  chosen  moderator  by  a  hand  vote 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  a  Town  Clerk,  and  the  same  having  been  brought  in 
and  counted,  it  appeared  that 

William  Cooper 
was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  year  ensuing,  and  the  Oath  of 
Office  was  administered  to  him  by  Mr.  Justice  Bulfinch. 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  bring  in  their  Votes  for  9 
Selectmen,  and  the  same  having  been  brought  in  counted  and 
sorted,  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen 
Viz 

Charles  Bulfinch  Esq  Eben*".  Oliver  Esq 

David  Tilden  Esq  Jon^.  Hunnewell  Esq 

William  Porter  Esq.  John  May  Esq 

Mr.  John  Tileston  Francis  Wright  Esq 

Jon^.  Chapman  Esq 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  12  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  it 
appeared,  that 

Edward  Proctor  Esq  Mr.  Samuel  Snelling 

Henry  Hill  Esq  Mr.  Benjamin  Goddard 
William  Smith  Esq  Samuel  Clap  Esq 

William  Phillips  Esq  Mr.  Ozias  Goodwin 

[253.]    Dr.  Redford  Webster  Mr.  William  Mackey 

Thomas  Perkins  Esq  Joseph  CoolidgeJur  Esq 

were  chosen  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1804.  161 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Stephen  Gor- 
ham  Esq  Mr.  Oliver  Brewster  &  Stephen  Coclman  Esq  who  have 
resigned  as  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  for  their  good  services  during 
their  continuance  in  that  Office 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in   their  Votes  for   24  Fire  Wards, 

when  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen  — 
Viz 

Thomas  Melvill  Esq  John  Winslow  Esq 

Amasa  Davis  Esq  Capt  Joseph  Howard 

Samuel  Parlonan  Esq  Mr.  Benjamin  Joy 

Henry  Jackson  Esq  Stephen  Codman  Esq 

William  Scolley  Esq  William  Cunningham  Esq 

Joseph  May  Esq  Mr  John  Bray 

Capt  Robert  Gardner  Mr.  Thomas  Dennie 

John  May  Esq  General  Eliot 

William  Brown  Esq  Rufus  G  Amory  Esq 

Samuel  Bradford  Esq  Jou^.  Hunnewell  Esq 

Mr  Joseph  Head  Capt  Daniel  Messenger 

Thomas  H.  Perkins  Esq  Mr  Ozias  Goodwin 

[254.]  Voted,  that  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  12  persons 
shall  now  be  chosen  a  School  Committee  and  the  Votes  being 
brought  in  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen,  were  chosen 
—  Viz  — 

Hon^'  Thomas  Dawes  Esq  Arnold  Wells  Esq 

Dr  Thomas  Welch  Edward  Gray  Esq 

Rev*^.  Joseph  Eckley  DD  David  Green  Esq 

Rev<*.  J.  T.  Kirkland  DD  Josiah  Quincy  Esq 

Dr  Aaron  Dexter  Rev*^.  William  Emmerson 

William  Smith  Esq.  John  Phillips  Esq. 

Voted,  that  the  above  named  Gentlemen  who  conjunctly  with 
the  Selectmen  are  termed  the  School  Committee  be  and  hereby 
are  directed  to  carry  the  new  System  of  Education  which  has 
been  adopted  by  the  Town  into  operation  and  said  Committee  are 
also  authorized  and  empowered  conjunctly  to  manage  and  regu- 
late the  Affairs,  and  the  government  of  the  Schools  and  in  future 
to  execute  all  the  power  relative  to  the  Schools  &  School  Masters, 
which  the  Selectmen  or  such  Committees  were  authorized  by  the 
Laws  of  this  Commonwealth  or  the  Votes  of  the  Town  to  exercise, 
any  former  Vote  of  the  Town  notwithstanding 

The  Votes  for  a  Town  Treasurer  and  Collector  of  Taxes  being 
brought  in  it  appeared,  that 

Mr  Benjamin  Sumner  was  chosen 

Votes,  for  a  Treasurer  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  brought  in  and 
counted  by  the  Moderator  &  Town  Clerk  when  it  appeared  that 
the  whole  number  was   1 70,  all  of  which  were  for  Ebenezer  Sever 


162  City  Document  No.  116. 

Esq  a  discreet  suitable  person  &   a  Freeholder  and  Resident  in 
said  County. 

[355.]      The  Votes,  being  brought  in  for  a  Town  Advocate  for 
the  Municipal  Covirt,  it  appeared  that 

John  Phillips  Esq 
was  chosen. 

Messrs.  Joshua  Bently  Messrs.  John  Butterfleld 

Benjamin  White  Samuel  Treat 

John  Cogswell  Nath'  Bradlee  Ju'' 

Daniel  Ingersol  jur  Noah  Doggett  Jun'' 

William  Clouston  Caleb  Coolidge 

William  Darricott  Brodick  Loring 

William  Ellison  Edward  Allen 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Boards  &  Shingles  for  y®  year  ensuing 

Messrs.  Benjamin  White  Messrs.  Daniel  Ingersol  Ju'' 

Moses  Thayer  William  Darricott 

were  chosen  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Messrs.  Barney  Connor 
Joseph  Cabbit 
were  chosen  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Messrs.  Barney  Connor 
Joseph  Cabbit 
were  chosen  Haywards  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Messrs.  Samuel  Emmons 
James  Phillips 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Hemp  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

[356.]  Edward  Tuckerman  Esq 

Mr  Josiah  Snelling 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Wheat  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Messrs.  John  Wells 

William  Cooper  Hunneman 
were  chosen  Assay  Masters  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Messrs.  Roger  Bartlet 

Jonathan  Cushing 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Dry  Fish  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Henry  Purkett 
Lemuel  Gardner 
Thomas  Barbour 
James  Eunson 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Hoops  &  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing 


Boston  Town  Records,  1804.  163 

The  Selectmen 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  High  Ways  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mr.  Edward  Rumney 
was  chosen  Inspector  of  Stone  Lime  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Judge  Sullivan 
was  added  to  the  Committee  relative  to  a  piece  of  Land  in  Water 
Street 

Voted,  that  Honb'  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 

Samuel  Brown  Esq 
be,  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the  Accompts 
of  the  Town  Treasurer,  and  also  the  Accounts  of  the  Selectmen, 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  Board  of  Health ;  and  said  Committee 
are  also  directed  to  report  the  Sums  necessary  to  be  raised,  for 
the  services  of  the  present  Year. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz  ' '  to  take  measures  respecting 
the  bequest  of  the  late  Honb^  William  Phillips  Esq  of  Five  thou- 
sand Dollars  to  the  Town  towards  building  an  Hospital"  was 
read,  whereupon 

Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  [257]  Committee  to  wait  upon 
the  Executor  to  the  late  Honb^  William  Phillips  Esq  to  express 
the  thanks  of  the  Town  for  the  generous  bequest. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  relative  to  the  Claim  of  a  piece  of 
Land  in  Water  Street  by  William  Phillips  Esq  was  read,  and 
referred  to  the  Committee  to  which  Judge  Sullivan  is  added ;  said 
Committee  not  having  been  able  to  make  Report 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday  the  28"^  March  10  OClock  A.M. 

Town  met  according  to  Adjournment  March  28"'  10  OClock 
A.M. 

The  Committee  relative  to  the  Claim  of  William  Phillips  Esq 
to  a  piece  of  Land  near  Water  Street  and  considered  thereupon — 
the  Question  was  put  viz  Whether  said  Report  be  accepted 
—  passed  in  the  affirmative. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  Consider  the  Petition  of  William 
Phillips  Esq  relating  to  a  slip  of  Land  on  Kilby  Street  have 
attended  that  service  and  beg  leave  to  Report  —  That  it  is  in 
their  opinion  best  that  the  Town  Release  to  said  Phillips  and  his 
Heirs  all  right  to  the  said  Slip  of  Land,  provided  he  pay  therefor 
so  much  money  as  three  disinterested  Arbitrators,  mutually  to  be 
chosen  by  the  Selectmen  and  said  Phillips  shall  determine  to 
be  the  value  therefor,  and  provided  he  agree  that  he  and  his 


164  City  Document  No.  115. 

Heirs  and  Assignes  shall  keep  in  good  repair  so  much  of  the 
Drain  as  passes  under  said  Strip  of  Land  in  the  place  it  now 
occupies ;  and  of  its  present  dimensions.  All  which  is  sub- 
mitted by 

Thomas  Dawes 

Samuel  Brown 

Joseph  Russell 

J  Prince 
Boston  March  27.  1804. 

[358.]     The  Article  relative  to  3Iill  Pond  and  the  Report 
of  Town's  Committee  thereon,  was  read,  and  on  motion  referred 
for  further  consideration,  to  the  next  May  Meeting- 
Voted,  that  all  matters,  which  shall  remain  unfinished  at  this 
Meeting,  be  referred  over  to  May  Meeting. 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Joseph  Rus- 
sell Esq.  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator  of  this  Meeting 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
of  21  Years  of  age  and  upwards,  qualified  as  the  Constitution 
prescribes,  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meeting  Assem- 
bled at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  "2^  of  April  Anno  Domini 
1804,   11  OClock  A,M, 

Prayer  by  the  Rev'^.  Joseph  Eckley  DD 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  Read 

Paragraph  of  the  Constitution  or  frame  of  Grovernment  relative 
to  the  choice  of  Governor,  Lieu*  Governor  &  Senators. 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Vote  will  be 
received  but  such  as  are  unfolded,  and  that  they  propose  the  Poll 
shall  be  closed  at  \  past  2  OClock  P.M.  the  Votes  to  be  received 
at  the  Table  and  the  Bells  to  begin  ringing  at  2  OClock  —  and  to 
continue  half  an  hour 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Governor  with  the  number  of  Votes  for 
each  Person  —  Viz 

Votes 

His  Excellency  Caleb  Strong  Esq 1980 

Honbl  James  Sullivan  Esq 650 

Persons  Voted,  for  as  Lieu*  Governor,  with  the  number  of 
Votes  for  each  Person  —  Viz 


Boston  Town  Records,  1804.  165 

Votes 

Honb^  Edward  H  Robbins  Esq 1909 

Honb^  William  Heath  Esq 730 

[359.]  Persons  Voted,  for  as  Senators  for  the  County  of 
Suffolk  with  the  number  of  Votes  for  each  Person  Viz  — 

Votea 

Honbl  Oliver  Wendell  Esq 2647 

Honbl  Benjamin  Austin  Jur  Esq 847 

Honbl  James  Bowdoin  Esq 1126 

Honbl  David  Tilden  Esq 1136 

Abiel  Smith  Esq 1209 

John  Phillips  Esq 1544 

WiUiam  Brown  Esq -  1802 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 1516 

Josiah  Qulncy  Esq 1452 

Attested  copies  of  the  Persons  Voted  for,  as  Grovernor  Lieu' 
Governor  and  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  sealed  up 
in  Town  Meeting,  (after  the  Votes  had  been  declared)  and 
transmitted  to  the  Secretary  of  this  Commonwealth.  Subscribed 
as  follows  —  Viz 

For  John  Avery  Esq. 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

The  number  of  Votes  of  the  Town  of  Boston  for  Governor, 
Lieu'^  Governor,  and  five  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk, 
Certified  within  and  sealed  up  in  Town  Meeting,  after  the  Vote 
had  been  declared 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved 


[260.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the 
9*^  Day  of  April  A.  D.  1804. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  Read 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 
was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote 

The  Request  of  William  Tudor,  Harrison  G  Otis  and  Jonathan 
Mason  Esquires,  "that  the  Town  will  appoint  Agents  to  treat 
with  them  upon  the  terms,  on  which  they  may  obtain  the  whole  or 
part  of  the  Town's  Land  on  Orange  Street  now  occupied  by  Capt 
Nath^  Curtis  for  the  purpose  of  building  the  proposed  New  IMdge 
therefrom  "  —  was  read  and  considered,  whereupon 


166  City  Document  No.  115. 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  Agents 
on  behalf  of  the  Town,  with  full  powers  to  treat  with  the  pro- 
prietors of  South  Bridge  for  the  disposal  of  the  whole  or  such 
part  of  the  Town's  Landing  on  Orange  Street,  for  the  purpose  of 
building  the  proposed  Bridge,  and  to  conclude  with  them  such  a 
Contract  as  may  under  all  circumstances  be  for  the  Interest  of 
the  Town 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved 


[361.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  of  21  Years  of  Age  &  upwards  qualified  as  the  Con- 
stitution prescribes,  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meeting 
Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  9th  Day  of  May 
A.  D.  1804.  11,  OClock  A.  M. 

The  Meeting  was  opened  with  Prayer,  by  the  Rev'^.  Mr.  Free- 
man. 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting  —  Read 

That  part  of  the  Constitution  or  frame  of  Government  which 
relates  to  the  choice  of  Representatives,  read 

The  Town  having  determined  by  a  Vote  to  choose  7  Persons 
to  Represent  them  in  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  to  be 
holden  in  the  State  House  in  Boston  on  the  last  Wednesday  of 
May  Current,  agreeable  to  the  Constitution  or  frame  of  Govern- 
ment for  Massachusetts ;  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  by  the 
Selectmen  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their  Votes  for  7  Representa- 
tives, and  then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Votes 
would  be  received  by  the  Selectmen  but  such  as  are  unfolded,  and 
untill  the  names  of  the  Persons  entering  shall  be  marked  on  the 
List  by  the  Gentlemen  who  assist  for  that  purpose  from  the 
several  Wards,  and  that  they  propose  the  Poll  shall  be  closed  at 
■^  past  2  OClock,  the  Bells  to  begin  tolling  at  2  OClock  and  to 
continue  untiU  half  an  hour  is  expired. 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  Seven  Representatives,  the 
whole  number  was  found  to  be  1976,  and  upon  sorting  them  it 
appeared,  that  the  following  seven  Gentlemen  were  chosen,  having 
obtained  a  majority  of  the  Votes  Viz. 

Votes 

•    Honbi  H  G  Otis  Esq. 1119 

Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esq.    -     -     -  1136 

William  Smith  Esq 1128 

Abiel  Smith  Esq 1971 

Dr  William  Spooner 1095 

Mr.  John  Wells 1117 

WiUiam  Sullivan  Esq      -     -     -     -  1105 


Boston  Town  Records,  1804.  167 

[363.]     The  Votes  given  in  for  such  as  did  not  obtain  were 
for 

Votes 

Honbi  David  Tilden  Esq 890 

Samuel  Brown  Esq 892 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq 892 

Samuel  Clap  Esq 896 

David  Townsend  Esq      -     -     -     -  878 

Abiel  Smith  Esq [blank] 

Col"  Gardner 844 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen  — 

The  Meeting  was  dissolved 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the  10  Day  of 
May  A.D.  1804.  10  OClock  A.M. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  Read 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 
was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  Hand  Vote. 

The  article  in  the  Warrant  viz.  "  To  consider  what  allowance 
shall  be  made  the  Town  Treasurer  &  Collector,  and  the  Assessors 
for  their  services "  —  was  read  and  after  some  debate  it  was 
moved  and  Voted,  that  the 

Hon'^^  James  Sullivan  Esq 
Charles  Jarvis  Esq 
Hon^^  Joseph  Russell  Esq 

Benjamin  Russell  Esq 
Samuel  Brown  Esq 
be  a  Committee  to  consider  this  matter  and  Report  thereon  at  the 
adjournment. 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw,  and  bring  in  their 
Votes,  for  6  Agents,  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  as  Trustees  for 
the  management  of  the  Town  lands  who  conjunctly  are  to  lease 
and  manage  said  Land,  in  such  manner  as  shall  appear  to  them 
best  for  the  interest  of  the  Town,  and  upon  sorting  the  Votes 
brought  in  it  appeared  that 

Hon^^  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 
General  John  Winslow  Esq 
Hon^^  Wilham  Brown  Esq 
[363.]  Josiah  Knapp  Esq 

Joshua  Davis  Jur  Esq 
Hon^^  John  PhilUps  Esq 
were  chosen 


168  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  Audit  the  Accompts  of  the  Town 
Treasurer  &c  &c  and  the  sums  necessary  to  be  raised  for  the 
present  Year. —  Report  Viz. 

The  Treasurer  Credits  the  Town  of  Boston  with  sundry  Sums 
of  Money  received  by  him  to  Amt  of $147511.91 

And  charge  the  Town  with  tlie  sum  of  -     -     -     -        147511.91 
which  includes  a  ballance  of  $937.89  Cents 
in  the  Treasury  April  30.  1804 

The  particulars  of  said  Debt  &  Credit  will  more  fully  appear 
from  the  Accounts  herewith  exhibited  and  which  are  as  follows  N** 
1.  and  which  is  more  fully  explained  in  N°  2. 

The  Tryal  ballance  Acct  to  the  Amt  of  $50156.44  is  also  an- 
nexed and  is  as  N°  3  —  The  Committee  find  the  aforementioned 
Accounts  to  be  well  vouched  and  right  cast  (so  far  as  they  have  had 
time  to  proceed  in  the  business)  all  which  will  more  fully  appear 
from  the  Accounts  themselves  when  compared  with  the  Books. — 
The  Committee  further  Report  that  from  an  Estimate  received 
from  the  Board  of  Selectmen  &c  there  will  be  wanting  the  follow- 
ing Sums  of  Money  for  the  Year  1804. 

Selectmen $42,000 

Overseers  of  the  Poor   -     -     -  14,000 

Board  of  Health 4000 

County  of  Suffolk     -     -     -     .  12000 

State 17620 

Sundries 10380 

Amounting  in  the  whole  to       --_--..     $100,000 

The  Committee  are  therefore  of  opinion  that  the  Town  Vote,  a 
Tax  to  be  raised  according  to  Law  for  $100,000  for  the  above 
purpose — 

Thomas  Dawes 

Joseph  Russell 

Samuel  Brown 

[364.]  The  foregoing  Report  having  been  read  and  con- 
sidered the  Question  was  put  whether  the  same  shall  be  accepted, 
Passed  in  the  Affirmative  — 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  $70,380  be  raised  by  a  Tax  to  be 
Assessed  on  the  Polls  and  Estates  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this 
Town,  to  defray  the  Expences  of  the  Current  Year 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  $666  be  allowed  and  paid  unto  William 
Cooper  for  his  ser^^.ces  as  Town  Clerk  the  ensuing  Year  — 


Boston  Town  Records,  180-i.  169 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  three  hundred  Dollars  be  allowed  to 
John  Phillips  Esq.  for  his  services  as  Town  Advocate  the  Year 
ensuing  — 

The  Report  of  the  Committee,  relative  to  Mill  Pond,  again 
read  —  and  after  long  debate  the  Question  as  called  for  was  put 
that  the  Meeting  be  now  Adjourned  —  passed  in  the  Negative  — 
It  was  then  moved  that  the  sense  of  the  Town  be  taken  with 
respect  to  the  expediency  of  filling  up  the  Mill  Pond  —  and  the 
Question  being  accordingly  put  —  it  was  declared  by  the  Modera- 
tor that  the  Vote  was  in  the  negative  —  there  being  a  call  that 
the  House  might  be  divided  —  it  was  accordingly  divided  twice, 
when  the  Moderator  declared  that  he  remained  of  the  same 
opinion  —  a  Poll  was  then  demanded  by  seven  Citizens,  and  on 
the  division,  the  Moderator  declared  it  was  now  his  opinion  the 
Vote  was  in  favour  of  filling  up  the  Pond  —  there  was  then  a 
motion  for  an  Adjournment,  when  the  business  might  be  again 
taken  up  and  more  fully  discussed  —  when  it  was  Voted,  that  the 
Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Monday  the  14'^  of  May  Ins*  9 
OClock  A.M.  for  the  consideration  of  this  matter  and  other 
still  unfinished. 

Monday  the  14"'  May  9  OClock  Forenoon  Town  met  accord- 
ing to  Adjournment. 

The  business  of  the  Mill  Pond  was  taken  up,  and  it  appeared 
to  be  the  sense  of  the  Town  that  this  matter,  should  be  consid- 
ered anew,  the  Vote  for  filhng  up  the  Pond  at  the  last  Meeting 
notwithstanding  —  A  long  debate  then  ensued,  on  the  subject  at 
large  when,  it  was  moved, — that  the  Question  be  put  —  viz 
Whether  it  be  the  [265]  sense  of  this  Meeting,  that  it  is  expe- 
dient that  the  Mill  Pond  should  be  filled  up  —  and  the  Question 
being  accordingly  put  Passed  in  the  Affirmative,  by  a  consid- 
erable majority 

It  was  then  moved  and  Voted,  that  a  Committee  be  appointed 
to  treat  with  the  supposed  Proprietors  of  the  Mill  Pond  relative 
to  filling  up  the  same  —  and  to  make  such  Agreement  with  them 
for  that  purpose,  as  in  the  opinion  of  said  Committee,  shall  be 
most  for  the  advantage  of  the  Town. 

Voted,  that  Honb^  William  Eustis 

Honb^  Thomas  Dawes  Sen"^ 

Charles  Jarvis  Esq 
Honbl  Joseph  Russell 
Honbl  James  Sullivan 
Honbl  William  Brown 
be  added  to  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  as  a  Committee  for  the 
purpose  aforesaid  — 

The  Committee  to  consider  suitable  Allowances  to  the  Treas- 


170  City  Document  No.  115. 

urer  &  Collector  —  and  to  the  Assessors  —  Reported,  and  said 
Report  as  amended  in  Town  Meeting,  and  accepted  by  the  Town 
is  as  follows  —  Viz  — 

The  Treasurer  to  be  allowed  and  paid  Seven  hundred  Dollars, 
in  addition  to  five  hundred  Dollars  allowed  him  for  a  Clerk  in  his 
last  Accounts  for  1803  and  that  he  be  allowed  1200  Dollars  for 
the  Year  1804  and  to  pay  his  own  Clerk  — 

The  Assessors,  to  be  allowed  —  each  for  their  services  for  the 
Year  1802.  they  having  received  650  Dollars  each  for  that  Year 
—  and  that  they  be  paid  650  Dollars  each  for  the  Years  1803  and 
1804.— 

Voted,  that  any  matters  unfinished  at  this  Meeting  be  referred 
for  consideration  to  the  next  General  Meeting  that  shall  be 
called. 

[366.]  Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  the 
Honbl  Joseph  Russell,  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator.  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  4*^  Day  of 
July  A.D.  1804—9  OClock  A.M. 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting  —  Read. 

William  Cooper 
chosen  Moderator  — 

The  Committee  appointed  the  last  Year,  to  make  choice  of  a 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  Indepen- 
dence — 

Reported  that  they  had  made  choice  of  Dr.  Thomas  Danforth, 
who  has  accepted  of  the  appointment. 

On  Motion,  Adjourned  to  Old  South  Church  when 

AN   ORATION 

to  commemorate  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  was  deliv- 
ered by  Dr  Thomas  Danforth  at  the  Old  South. 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  wait 
on  Dr  Thomas  Danforth  and  in  the  Name  of  the  Town  to  thank 


Boston  Town  Records,  1804.  171 

him  for  the  elegant,  and  spirited  Oration  this  Day  delivered  by 
him  at  the  request  of  the  Town,  upon  the  Anniversary  of  the 
Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America ;  in  which  accord- 
ing to  the  Institution  of  the  Town,  ho  considered  the  manners, 
feelings  and  principles  which  led  to  that  Great  National  Event 
—  and  to  request  of  him  a  Copy  thereof  for  the  Press 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  G-entlemen  Selectmen  be  and  hereby 
are  appointed  a  Committee  to  apply  to  some  able  &  learned  Gen- 
tlemen to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  4th  of  July  A.D.  1805,  that 
Day  being  the  Anniversary  of  the  Independence  [367]  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  wherein  the  Orator  is  to  consider  the 
feelings,  manners,  and  principles  which  led  to  this  great  National 
event ;  as  well  as  the  important  and  happy  effects  whether  general 
or  domestic  which  have  already  or  will  forever  flow  from  that 
auspicious  epoch.  — 

Then  the  Meetins;  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  qualified  to  vote  for  Representatives  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court  of  this  Commonwealth  and  legally  warned,  in  public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  the  5th  Day  of  Novem- 
ber A.D.  1804  being  the  1st  Monday  of  the  same  Month  11 
0  Clock  A.M. 

Prayer  made  by  Rev*^  Mr  Channing. 

"Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  Read 

Paragraph  of  a  Resolve  of  the  General  Court  for  the  choice  of 
Nineteen  Electors  of  President  and  Vice  President  of  the  United 
States  —  and  also  for  one  Representative  —  Read. 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  they  proposed  to 
have  the  Poll  closed  at  Y-z  past  2  O  Clock  —  the  Bells  to  begin 
tolling  at  2  O  Clock. 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Electors  of  the  President  &  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  — Viz 

At  Large 
Honbl  David  Cobb  Esq  of  Goolsburough  District  of 

Maine -     2277 

Honbl  Oliver  Wendell  Esq  of  Boston,  Dis't  of  Massa- 
chusetts    2277 

Honbl  John  Coffin  Jones  Esq  of  Boston  Suffolk  Dist  -     2277 

Essex  S°  District 
Honbl  Benjamin  Goodhue  of  Salem 2277 


172  City  Document  No.  115. 

Essex  N°  District 

Honbl  Bailey  Bartlet  Esq  of  Haverhill 2277 

Middlesex  District 

Honbl  Eleazer  Brooks  Esq  of  Lincoln 2277 

[368.]  Hampshire  N°.  District         , 

Honbl  Eben  Mattoon  Jun"^  Esq  of  Amherst       -     -     -     2277 
Hampshire  S°  District 

Honbl  William  Shephard  Esq 2277 

Plymouth  District 

Honbl  William  Sever  Esq  of  Kingston 2277 

Barnstable  District 
Honbl  Ebenezer  Bacon  Esq  of  Barnstable   -     -     -     -     2277 
Bristol  District 

Honbl  George  Leonard  Esq  of  Norton 2277 

Worcester  S°  District 

Joseph  Allen  Esq  of  Worcester 2277 

Worcester  N°  District 

Honbl  Josiah  Stearns  Esq 2277 

Berkshire  District 
Honbl  David  Rosseter  Esq  of  Richmond      -     -     -     .     2277 
Norfolk  District 

Honbl  Cotton  Tufts  Esq 2277 

York  District 

Honbl  John  Lord  Esq  of  Berwick 2277 

Cumberland  District 

Honbl  Isaac  Parker  Esq  of  Portland 2277 

Lincoln  District 

Honbl  Thomas  Rice  of  Wiscasset 2277 

Kennebeck  District 
Samuel  S  Wilde  Esq  of  Hallowell      -     -     -     -     2277 
At  Large 

Honbl  James  Sullivan  Esq  of  Boston 1568 

Honbl  Elbridge  Gerry  of  Cambridge 1568 

Suffolk  District 

Honbl  James  Bowdoin  of  Boston 1568 

S°  Essex 

Col"  John  Hathorn  of  Salem     - 1568 

N°  Essex 

Dr  Thomas  Kitteredge  of  Andover 1568 

Middlesex 

Honbl  James  Winthrop  of  Cambridge 1568 

S°  Hampshire 
Jonathan  Smith  Jur  of  West  Springfield     -     -     1568 

N°  Hampshire 
Edward  Upham  Esq  of  New  Salem  .      -     -     -     1568 
Plymouth 
Honbl  James  Warren  of  Plymouth     -     -  -     .     -     1568 

[269.]  Bristol  District 

Honbl  Josiah  Deane  of  Raynham       --  ---1568 

Barnstable 
Honbl  John  Davis  of  Barnstable -1568 


Boston  Town  Records,  1805.  173 

go  \Yorcester 

General  Timothy  Newell  of  Sturbridge 1568 

N°  Worcester 

General  John  Whiting  of  Lancaster 1568 

Berkshire 

Honbl  John  Bacon  of  Stockbridge 1568 

Norfolk 

Honbl  William  Heath  of  Roxbury 1568 

York 

Honbl  John  Woodman  of  Buxton 1568 

Cumberland 

Honbl  Charles  Turner  of  Turner -     -     1568 

Kennebeck 

CoP  Thomas  Fillebrown  of  Hallowell 1568 

Lincoln 
John  Farley  Esq  of  New  Castle    -----     1568 

Persons  Voted,  for  as  a  Representative  for  the  first  Middle 
District  of  this  Commonwealth  in  the  next  Congress  of  the 
United  States --     Viz. — 

Votes 

Honbl  William  Eustis  Esq  —  Fifteen  hundred  sixty  seven 
Honbl  Josiah  Quincy  Esq  —  Nineteen  hundred  &  twenty 
Honbl  John  Phillips  Esq Three 

Two  attested  copies  of  the  Persons  Voted  for  as  above  were 
sealed  up,  and  sent  to  the  Secretary  of  this  Commonwealth  by 
the  Town  Clerk  —  superscribed  as  follows  —  Viz  — 

For  John  Avery  Esq 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth 

List  of  Votes,  for  a  Representative  for  the  first  middle  District 
of  this  Commonwealth  in  the  next  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
from  the  Town  of  Boston — (the  other  for  Electors  &c.  of  the 
same  tenor) 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved 


1805. 


[370.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned, 
in  pubhc  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday 
the  4*^  Day  of  February  A.D.   1805. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -     -     -     Read. 

Thomas  Edwards  Esq 
chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote. 


174  City  Document  No.  115. 

A  Communication  from  the  Mill  Proprietors  as  also  the  Act 
incorporating  said  Proprietors  —  were  read  — 

It  appearing  to  the  Town,  that  the  Hall  was  not  sufficient  to 
receive  all  the  Inhabitants,  that  would  attend  the  Meeting  —  the 
Selectmen  were  desired  to  prepare  a  suitable  place  for  the  Meet- 
ing of  the  Inhabitants  at  the  proposed  Adjournment. 

The  Meeting  was  then  Adjourned  to  Thursday  next  10  OClock. 
A.M  :  to  meet  at  this  place  or  such  other  as  may  be  designated 
by  the  Selectmen. 

Thursday  the  7*^  of  February  10  OClock  AM:  met  according 
to  adjournment. 

The  Selectmen  Reported,  several  places  where  the  Inhabitants 
might  be  accommodated,  leaving  it  with  the  Town  to  determine 
which  was  the  most  convenient  when  the  Town  on  Motion  Ad- 
journed to  Mr.  Murray's  Meeting  House. 

The  Town  as  adjourned,  met  at  Rev*^.  Mr  Murray's  Church.* 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Mill  Pond  was  again  read, 
and  after  long  debate  thereon,  the  Question  was  put.  Whether 
the  same  shall  be  accepted  Passed  in  the  Affirmative  by  a  great 
Majority — (Mem°  the  Report  was  printed  and  distributed, 
previous  to  this  Meeting,  which  together  with  other  Papers  rela- 
tive to  Mill  Pond,  are  placed  upon  the  Files  Feb^  4.  1805) 

On  motion  This  Meeting  stands  Adjourned  to  February  8  then 
to  meet  at  this  place  10  OClock  A.M. 

[371.]  Town  Met  according  to  Adjournment  Thursday  the 
8"'  of  February  10  0  Clock.  A.  M. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant.  Viz  "  To  Act  upon  the  Petition 
of  the  Inhabitants  of  South  Boston  and  others  to  take  the  sense 
of  the  Town,  whether  they  will  direct  their  Representatives,  to 
use  their  endeavours  to  obtain  a  Bridge  to  South  Boston,  from 
South  Street  or  the  parts  Adjacent" — was  read,  as  also  the 
petition  and  other  papers  relative  thereto  —  And  after  full  debate 
had  thereon,  it  was  moved  and  carried 

That  it  will  be  a  great  advantage  to  the  Town  to  have  a  Bridge 
from  South  Street  or  some  place  near  it  to  South  Boston,  as  soon 
as  the  same  can  be  conveniently  erected ;  And  that  the  Repre- 
sentatives of  the  Town  and  the  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk 
be  requested  to  solicit  the  Legislature  from  time  to  time,  and 
procure  an  Act  to  be  passed  for  that  purpose,  without  delay  — 

*  First  Univcrsalist,  Hanover  street. 


Boston  Town  Recokds,  1805.  175 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  Thomas  Edwards  Esq  for  his  good  services,  as 
Moderator  of  this  Meeting. — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[373.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned 
in  public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday 
the  11"^  Day  of  March.  A.  D.  1805  9  OClock  A.  M. 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Rev*^.  Dr  Lathrop 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting — Read 

Sundry  Laws  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting  were  accordingly  —  read 

Thomas  Edwards  Esq 
was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  a  Town  Clerk,  and  the  Votes  having  been  brought  in 
and  counted,  it  appeared,  that 

William  Cooper 
was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  Year  ensuing  and  the  Oath  of 
Office  was  administered  to  him  by  Thomas  Edwards  Esq 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  9  Selectmen  and  the  same  having  been  brought  in  and 
counted  it  appeared  that  the  following  G-entlemen  were  chosen 

Charles  Bulfinch  Esq  Mr.  Ebenezer  Oliver 

David  Tilden  Esq  •  Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esq 

William  Porter  Esq  John  May  Esq 

Mr.  John  Tileston  Francis  Wright  Esq 

Jonathan  Chapman  Esq 

Adjourned  to  3  OClock.  P.M. 

[373.]     Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

Edward  Proctor  Esq  Mr  Samuel  Snelling 

Henry  Hill  Esq  Mr  Benjamin  Goddard 

William  Smith  Esq  Samuel  Clap  Esq 

William  Phillips  Esq  Mr.  Ozias  Goodwin 

Dr.  Redford  Webster  Mr.  William  Mackey 

Thomas  Perkins  Esq  Joseph  Coolidge  Jur  Esq 
were  chosen  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing 


176  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  24  Fire-wards,  when 
it  appeared  that  the  following  G-entlemen  were  chosen  —  Viz 
Thomas  Melvill  Esq  Mr  Thomas  Dennie 

Mr.  Amasa  Davis  General  Elliot 

Samuel  Parkman  Esq  Rufus  G  Amory  Esq 

Henry  Jackson  Esq  Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esq 

William  Scollay  Esq       [374.]  Cap^  Daniel  Messenger 
Joseph  May  Esq  Mr  Ozias  Goodwin 

Capt  Robert  Gardner  Mr.  Thomas  Curtis 

Samuel  Bradford  Esq  Joshua  Davis  Jur  Esq 

John  Winslow  Esq  Mr  John  D  Howard 

Stephen  Codman  Esq  Mr  Benjamin  Coates 

Andrew  Cunningham  Esq  Mr  Joseph  Head 

Mr  John  Bray  Thomas  H  Perkins  Esq 

Voted,  that  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  12  Persons  shall  now 
be  chosen  a  School  Committee,  and  the  Votes  being  brought  in 
and  sorted,  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen 
—  Viz. 

Hon'^^  Thomas  Dawes  Esq  Arnold  Wells  Esq" 

Dr  Thomas  Welch  Edward  Gray  Esq 

Rev*^  Joseph  Eckley  DD  David  Green  Esq 

Rev*^  J  T  Kirkland  DD  Josiah  Quincy  Esq 

Dr  Aaron  Dexter  Rev'^  William  Emmerson 

William  Smith  Esq  John  Phillips  Esq 

Voted,  that  the  above  named  Gentlemen  who  conjunctly  with 
the  Selectmen  are  termed  the  School  Committee  be  and  hereby 
are  directed  to  carry  the  new  System  of  Education  which  has 
been  adopted  by  the  Town  into  operation,  and  said  Committee 
ar6  also  authorised  and  empowered  conjunctly,  to  manage  and 
regulate  the  Officers,  and  the  Government  of  the  Schools,  and  in 
future  to  execute  all  the  power  relative  to  the  Schools  &  School- 
masters, which  the  Selectmen  or  such  Committee  were  authorised 
by  the  Laws  of  the  Commonwealth  or  the  Votes  of  the  Town  to 
exercise,  any  former  Votes  of  the  Town  notwithstanding. 

[375.]  The  Votes  for  a  Town  Treasurer  &  Collector  of 
Taxes  being  brought  in  it  appeared  that 

Mr  Benjamin  Sumner 
was  chosen. 

Votes,  for  a  Treasurer  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  brought  in  & 
counted  by  the  Moderator  &  Town  Clerk,  when  it  appeared  that 
the  whole  number  was  383  of  which  231  were  for  Ebenezer 
Seaver  Esq  &  152  for  Mr  Benjamin  Sumner  both  discreet  suita- 
ble Persons  &  Freeholders  and  Residents  in  said  County. 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  a  Town  Advocate  for  the 
Municipal  Court  it  appeared  that 

John  Philhps  Esq  was  chosen. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1805.  177 

Messrs.  Jonathan  Bentley         Messrs.  John  Butterfield 
Benjamin  White  Samuel  Treat 

John  Cogswell  Nathaniel  Bradlee  Jur 

Daniel  Ingersol  Noah  Dogget  Jur 

William  Clouston  Caleb  Coolidge 

William  Darracott  Braddock  Loring 

William  Ellison  Edward  Allen 

were   chosen    Surveyors   of    Boards    &   Shingles,  for   the   Year 
ensuing 

[376.]         Messrs.  Benjamin  White 
Moses  Ayers 
Daniel  Ingersol  Jur 
William  Darracot 
were  chosen  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Barney  Connor 
James  Cobbit 
were  chosen  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Barney  Connor 
James  Cobbit 
were  chosen  Haywards  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Samuel  Emmons 
James  Phillips 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Hemp  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Edward  Tuokerman  Esq 
Mr  Josiah  Snelhng 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Wheat  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  John  Wells 
William  Cooper  Hunneman 
were  chosen  Assay  Masters  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Jonathan  Cushing 
Joseph  Doble 
Elisha  Turner 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Dry  Fish  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Henry  Purkitt 
Lemuel  Gardner 
Thomas  Barbour 
James  Eunson 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Hoops  &  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

[377.]  The  Selectmen 

were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Highways  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mr  Edward  Rumney 
was  chosen  Inspector  of  Stone  Lime  for  the  Year  ensuing. 


178  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant,  viz  "  to  consider  the  appUcation 
of  Mr  Josiah  Knapp,  that  the  Town  would  relinquish  to  him  part 
of  their  Flatts  bounding  on  a  passage  way  leading  south  of  his 
dwelling  House  from  Orange  Street  to  Front  Street,  upon  terms 
to  be  agreed  upon"  was  read  —  "Whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  authorized  to  make  such  con- 
tracts with  Mr  Josiah  Knapp  relative  to  the  filling  up  and  mak- 
ing the  Street  leading  through  his  Estate  to  Front  Street,  as  they 
may  Judge  for  the  interest  of  the  Town  and  to  convey  to  him  by 
Quit  Claim  Deed,  such  part  of  the  Flatts  adjoining  the  same  as 
they  may  Judge  proper  reserving  thirty  feet  in  width  for  said 
Street. 

Voted,  that  the  Honb^  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 
Joseph  Russell  Esq 
Samuel  Brown  Esq 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the  Accompts 
of  the  Town  Treasurer,  and  also  the  Accompts  of  the  Selectmen, 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  &  Board  of  Health  and  said  Committee 
are  also  directed  to  Report  the  sums  necessary  to  be  raised  for 
their  services  for  the  present  Year. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz  ' '  To  act  upon  the  Petition  of 
Samuel  Hunt,  that  the  Rent  of  the  House  might  be  allowed  him, 
as  the  House  of  the  Latin  Grammar  Master  was  taken  down  to 
accommodate  the  Town  with  a  place  for  a  School  house ;  and  that 
he  might  receive  the  advantage  of  a  Vote  of  the  Town,  passed 
[378]  in  his  favour  in  the  Year  1782  —  was  read  whereupon 

Voted,  that  Honb^  Judge  Dawes  Dr.  Warren 

Mr.  William  Dall  Caleb  Bingham 

Mr.  Ticknor  Stephen  Codman  Esq 

Capt  Barnard 

be    a   Committee   to   take    up    this   matter     &    Report   at   the 

Adjournment 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz  '  •  To  hear  and  determine  on 
the  request  of  the  Fire  Wards,  for  a  Grant  of  a  reasonable  com- 
pensation to  their  Secretary  read,  and 

Voted,  that  Benjamin  Austin  Jur  Esq     Col°  Proctor 
Thomas  Edwards  Esq  Deacon  Brown 

CoP  May 
be  a  Committee  to  consider  this  application  and  to  Report  at  the 
Adjournment 

On  the  request  of  the  Assessors,  "that,  a  further  allowance 
may  be  made  them  for  their  services,"  — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1805.  179 

Voted,  that  General  Winslow  Major  Stutson 

Joseph  Cooledge  Jur  Esq       Stephen  Codman  Esq 
Capt  Brazier 
be  a  Committee  to  consider  this  request  and   Report  thereon  at 
the  Adjournment 

The  Clause  in  the  Warrant,  viz.  "  To  consider  the  expediency 
of  providing  a  more  convenient  place  for  Assembling  the  Inhabi- 
tants "  —  read  —  and  on  Motion 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  consider  this  matter  and  report 
thereon  when  they  shall  judge  proper  — 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday  the  27"^  March  Ins*  10  O  Clock 
A.M. 

[379.]  Wednesday  the  27**'  of  March  1805  —  10  O  Clock 
A.M.  Met  according  to  Adjournment 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  the  Assessors  for  a  further 
allowance  for  their  services,  Reported,  That  having  heard  the 
Assessors,  and  examined  the  business  &  the  time  they  are  obliged 
to  spend  therein,  are  of  opinion  in  consideration  of  the  increase 
of  duty  &  high  price  of  living,  that  there  be  granted  the  Sum  of 
five  hundred  Dollars  to  each  which  is  at  the  rate  of  166  Dollars 
66  Cents  P^  Year  in  addition  to  their  Salaries,  as  a  full  considera- 
tion for  past  services. 

John  Winslow,  Chairman  per  Order 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  Mr.  Samuel  Hunt  —  Reports 
That  upon  conferring  with  him  found  that  by  some  mistake  in 
that  petition,  it  does  not  comprehend  the  object  which  he  in- 
tended —  they  therefore  advised  him  to  withdraw  it,  and  prefer  a 
new  one  should  he  think  proper  to  a  future  Meeting,  to  which  he 
has  consented ;   and  the  Committee  Report  accordingly. 

Thomas  Dawes  Ju"^  per  order 

This  Report  having  been  read,  was  accepted  by  the  Town. — 

Col°  Gardner,  having  sent  in  his  resignation  as  a  Fire  Ward, 
It  was  moved  &  Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to 
Col°  Robert  Gardner  for  his  good  and  faithfull  services  as  a  Fire 
•  Ward  a  number  of  Years  past. 

The  Committee  on  the  request  of  the  Fire  Wards  for  the  grant 
of  a  reasonable  compensation  to  their  Secretary  Report,  That  two 
hundred  Dollars  be  allowed  as  a  full  compensation  for  his  ser- 
vices the  Year  ensuing  to  be  paid  by  the  Selectmen  in  Quarterly 
draughts  on  the  Town  Treasurer  — 

Benjamin  Austin  Ju'  per  Order 


180  City  Document  No.  115. 

[380.]     Moved  &  Voted,  almost  unanimously,  that  the  said 
Report  be  accepted. 

Voted,  that  all  matters  which  shall  remain  unfinished  at  this 
Meeting,  be  referred  for  consideration  to  May  Meeting 

Voted,   that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be   given  to  Thomas 
Edwards  Esq,  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator  of  this  Meeting. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
of  21  Years  of  Age  and  upwards  qualified  as  the  Constitution 
prescribes  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meeting  Assembled 
at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  1^*  Day  of  April  Anno  Domini 
1805  9  OClock.  A.  M. 

Prayer  by  the  Rev*^  Dr.  Eliot  — 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read 

Paragraph  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government  relative 
to  the  choice  of  Governor,  Lieut  Governor  &  Senators  —  read 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Vote  would  be 
received  but  such  as  are  unfolded  and  that  they  propose  the  Poll 
shall  be  closed  at  ^  past  1  oClock  P.  M.  The  Votes  to  be  received 
at  the  Table  and  the  Bells  to  begin  ringing  at  1  oclock  and  to 
continue  for  half  an  hour. 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Governor  with  the  number  of  Votes  for 
each  person  — 

Votes 

His  Excellency  Caleb  Strong  Esq 2587 

Honbl  James  Sullivan  Esq 1253 

Honbl  Elbridge  Gerry  Esq 5 

[381.]  Persons  Voted,  for  as  Lu'.  Governor  with  the  num- 
ber of  Votes  for  each  Person 

Honbl  Edward  H  Robbins  Esqr  -     -     -     -  2520 

Honbl  William  Heath  Esqr 1312 

Honbl  Henry  Knox 10 

Christopher  Gore  Esqr 7 

Persons  Voted,  for  as  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  with 
the  number  of  Votes  for  each  Person 

Honbl  Oliver  Wendell  Esq 2556 

Honbl  Harrison  G  Otis  Esq 2407 

Honbl  William  Brown  Esq 2300 


Boston  Town  Records,  1805.  181 

Honbl  John  Phillips  Esq 2543 

Thomas  H  Perkins  Esq       .     -     .     -  2534 

Honbl  David  Tilden  Esq 1315 

Samuel  Brown  Esq 1310 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq 1522 

Samuel  Clap  Esq      ------  1209 

Dr  David  Townsend 1270 

Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esq    -     -     -     -  68 

Stephen  Codman  Esq     -----  38 

Attested  Copies  of  the  Persons  Voted  for  as  Governor,  Lieut 
Governor,  and  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  sealed  up  in 
Town  Meeting  after  the  Votes  had  been  declared  and  transmitted 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  Subscribed  as  follows  — 
Viz. 

For  John  Avery  Esq 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

The  number  of  Votes  of  the  Town  of  Boston  for  Governor 
Lieu*  Governor  and  five  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  Certi- 
fied within  &  sealed  up  in  Town  Meeting  after  the  Vote  had  been 
declared. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[282.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  of  21  Years  of  Age  and  upwards  qualified  as  the 
Constitution  requires,  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meet- 
ing Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Friday  the  3*^  Day  of  May  A.D. 
1805,  10  OClock  A.M. 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting  —  read  —  also  the  Section  of  the 
Law  relative  to  choice  of  Representatives. 

Honbl  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 
chosen  Moderator  of  the  Meeting  by  a  hand  Vote  — 

The  Petition  for  a  Town  Meeting,  signed  by  Stephen  Higgin- 
son  Jur  Esq  and  others  —  read 

The  Article  in  the  warrant  viz  ' '  To  take  into  consideration 
the  propriety  of  increasing  the  customary  number  of  Representa- 
tives, and  of  ascertaining  &  determining  upon  the  number  to 
represent  the  Town  in  the  next  General  Court "  —  was  read  — 
and  after  some  debate  —  it  was  Voted,  That  the  Town  will  exer- 
cise its  Constitutional  privilege,  in  the  choice  of  Representatives 
—  It  was  therefore  Voted  and  by  a  handsome  majority,  that  at 
the  ensuing  Town  Meeting  the  Citizens  shall  bring  in  their  Votes 
for  Twenty  six  Representatives. 


182  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  Moderator,  had  a  Vote  of  Thanks  for  his  good  services 
Then  the  Meetins;  was  dissolved. 


[383.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  of  21  Years  of  Age,  and  upwards  qualified  as  the  Con- 
stitution prescribes,  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meeting 
Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  8*^  Day  of  May 
A.  D.  1805  —  9  0  Clock.  A.  M. 

The  Meeting  opened  with  Prayer  by  Rev*^.  Dr.  Baldwin  — 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting  —  read 

That  part  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government  which 
relates  to  the  choice  of  Representatives  —  read 

The  Town  having  determined  by  a  Vote  to  choose  Persons  to 
Represent  them  in  the  Greneral  Court  of  Massachusetts  to  be 
holden  in  the  State  House  in  Boston  on  the  last  Wednesday  of 
May  Current  agreeable  to  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Govern- 
ment for  Massachusetts ;  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  by  the 
Selectmen  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their  Votes  for  Representa- 
tives not  exceeding  26  ;  then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen 
that  no  Votes  would  be  received,  but  such  as  are  unfolded  and 
untill  the  names  of  the  Persons  entering  shall  be  marked  on  the 
List  by  the  Gentlemen  who  assist  for  that  purpose  from  the 
several  Wards,  and  that  they  propose  the  Poll  shall  be  closed  at 
2  O  Clock  the  Bells  to  begin  ringing  at  y^  past  1  O  Clock  and  to 
continue  until  half  an  hour  is  expired. 

The  Votes,  being  brought  in  for  26  Representatives  the  whole 
number  was  found  to  be  1051  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared 
that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen,  having  obtained  a 
majority  of  the  Votes.     Viz 

Votes 

William  Smith  Esq 1043 

Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esq -     -  1042 

Dr  William  Spooner 1043 

Mr  John  Wells 1046 

William  Sullivan  Esq 1047 

Honb^  George  Cabot  Esq -     -  1049 

Theophilus  Parsons  Esq. 1037 

[284.]  Honb»  Jonathan  Mason  Esq 1027 

Stephen  Codman  Esq 1036 

John  Winslow  Esq 1041 

Daniel  Sargent  Jur  Esq 1020 

WiUiam  Phillips  Esq 1036 

James  Lloyd  Esq 1033 


Boston  Town  Records,  1805.  183 

Thomas  Perkins  Esq 1040 

Simon  Elliot  Esq 1040 

Samuel  Parkman  Esq 1028 

Joseph  Hall  Esq 1046 

Edward  Tuckerman  Esq 1046 

Mr  Francis  Wright 1041 

Dr  Redford  Webster 1041 

Mr  Thomas  C  Amory      -     -     -     -     -     -     -  1026 

Edward  Gray  Esq 1048 

William  Parsons  Esq 1049 

John  Callender  Esq  -     - 1021 

Benjamin  Russell  Esq 1001 

Mr  Thomas  W  Sumner 1002 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen  — 

The  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[285.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabit 
tants  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned, 
in  public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday 
the  9"^  Day  of  May,  Anno  Domini  1805  10  OClock  A.M. 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting  —  Read 

Honb'  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 
was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote 

Votes  for  one  Fire  ward  in  the  room  of  one  who  had  declined 
serving  —  being  brought  in  and  counted,  it  appeared  that 

Mr   Judah   Hays  —  was   chosen    a   Fireward 
for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  six  Trustees  for  Town  Land  on  the  Neck  in  addition  to 
the  Selectmen,  who  conjunctly  are  to  Lease  and  manage  said 
Land  in  such  manner  as  shall  appear  to  them  best  for  the  Interest 
of  the  Town,  the  same  being  brought  in  and  sorted  it  appeared 
that 

Honb'  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 
General  John  Winslow  Esq 
Honb^  William  Brown  Esq 
Josiah  Knapp  Esq 
Joshua  Davis  Jur  Esq 
Honb^  John  Phillips  Esq 
were  chosen. 

Petition  of  Purchasers  of  Land  on  Neck  —  read,  together  with 
a  Statement  from  the  Trustees  of  said  Land  whereupon 


184  City  Document  No.  115. 

Voted  that  the  Statement  be  printed,  with  an  abstract  of  the 
original  conditions  of  Sale. 

The  Selectmen  having  laid  before  the  Town  a  proposal  for, 
together  with  the  Estimate  of  the  charge  of  enlarging  Faneuil 
Hall  it  was  moved  and  Voted,  that  the  [386]  same  be  printed 
for  the  inspection  of  the  Inhabitants 

The  Petition  of  Samuel  Hunt  late  Master  of  Grammar  School 
for  an  allowance  for  House  Rent  &c  was  read,  and  committed 
to 

Stephen  Codman  Esq 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 

Mr  Elisha  Ticknor 
they  to  examine,  and  Report  thereon  to  the  Town 

The  request  of  the  Town  Clerk  ' '  that  an  allowance  may  be 
made  him  on  account  of  the  rise  of  Rents  and  the  high  price  of 
the  nescessaries  of  hfe"  was  read  whereupon  Voted,  unanimously 
that  the  Selectmen  be  impowered  and  directed,  to  make  him  such 
allowance  therefor,  as  has  been  allowed  and  drawn  for  the  School 
Masters  and  other  Town  Officers  for  a  number  of  Years  past. — 

On  Motion,  the  Meeting  was  adjourned  to  Thursday  the  23*^ 
of  May  Inst  10  OClock  A.M. 

Thursday  the  23"^  of  May  10  OClock  A.M.  Met  according  to 
Adjournment 

The  petition  of  a  number  of  Purchasers  of  the  lots  of  Land  on 
the  Neck  "  that  the  condition  of  their  purchases  may  be  altered" 
read  —  as  also  the  Communication  of  the  Trustees,  which  by  order 
of  the  Town  was  printed  and  distributed  among  the  Inhabitants 
—  viz  "That  they  have  considered  this  subject  generally,  and 
upon  enquiry  and  examination,  find,  '  That  the  mode  of  purchase 
by  Lease  is  not  confonnable  to  the  practice  and  habits  of  our 
Citizens  — 

That  the  conditions  of  payment  of  a  perpetual  ground  rent 
so  embarrasses  and  encumbers  the  title  that  the  original  pur- 
chasers will  find  it  difficult  to  subdivide  their  lots  and  thereby 
obtain  that  assistance  in  building  upon  which  many  of  them  cal- 
culated—  That  considering  the  quantity  of  Land  lately  added  to 
the  Town,  it  is  important  that  the  Lands  of  the  Town  for  sale 
should  be  offered  on  as  good  terms  and  if  possible  upon  more 
favourable  terms,  than  the  Lands  of  Individuals  —  The  Trustees 
therefore  would  recommend,  that  the  Sales  of  Lots  in  future  should 
be  by  Deed  in  Fee  Simple  —  That  ten  per  cent  of  the  purchase 
money  should  be  advanced  within  Thirty  days  from  the  Sale,  and 
ten  pr  cent  be  paid  annually  at  some  stated  period  in  each  Year ; 
untill  the  whole  [387]  shall  be  paid;   and  that  a  mortgage  deed 


Boston  Town  Records,  1805.  185 

should  be  taken  for  the  regular  payment  of  principle   &  Interest 
with  proper  obligations  for  the  full  security  of  the  Town  — 

The  Trustees  having  also  considered  the  great  importance  of 
vesting  the  proceeds  of  the  Towns  Land  in  such  a  manner  as 
shall  create  a  fund,  the  interest  of  which  may  in  future  defray  a 
large  portion  of  the  expences  of  the  Town,  would  recommend 
that  the  Town  should  empower  the  Trustees  to  vest  the  proceeds 
of  the  land  in  Stock  of  the  United  States,  of  this  Staite,  or  of  any 
public  institution,  to  be  held  in  the  names  of  the  Trustees,  the 
interest  to  be  received  annually  by  the  Town  Treasurer,  and 
appropriated  as  the  Town  shall  direct  — 

With  respect  to  the  present  application  of  the  Lessees  the 
Trustees  recommend  that  all  those  who  shall  comply  with  their 
engagements  to  build  during  the  present  Year  shall  be  placed  on 
the  same  footing  as  the  future  purchasers  contemplated  above ; 
that  their  leases  be  cancelled,  and  the  Deeds  be  given  them  for 
their  lots,  upon  their  paying  ten  per  Cent  annually  of  the 
principal  and  interest  due. 

As  the  Trustees  however  are  sensible  that  this  arangement 
would  be  greatly  for  the  interest  of  the  present  applicants,  they 
are  of  opinion  it  ought  to  be  on  condition  that  they  fill  up  with 
earth  or  gravel,  and  put  in  good  order  the  cross  Streets  to  the 
extent  of  their  lots  and  that  they  place  a  row  of  edge  stones  on 
the  line  of  the  foot  walk  of  their  front  on  Washington  Street, 
and  level  and  pave  the  same  with  Bricks,  As  the  accommodation 
of  the  holders  of  the  land  will  be  principally  promoted  by  these 
measures,  the  Trustees  hope  that  these  conditions  will  be  readily 
agreed  to  " 

After  due  consideration,  it  was  moved  and  voted,  unanimously, 
that  the  Report  be  accepted  — 

The  Selectmen  having  (as  directed  by  the  Town)  Reported  what 
measures  should  be  taken  for  the  better  accommodation  of  the 
Inhabitants  in  their  public  Meetings  "  it  was  read  and  accepted 
and  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  empowered  and  directed  to 
proceed  to  enlarge  Faneuil  [288]  Hall  in  the  manner  and  for  the 
uses  pointed  out  in  the  Report.  — 

That  the  Selectmen  be  empowered  to  sell  and  execute  Deeds 
to  convey  the  Land  of  the  Town  on  the  Northly  side  of  the  Cir- 
cular Walk  on  Fort  Hill,  reserving  therefrom  as  much  as  may  be 
necessary  for  commodious  Streets  and  Passages — That  untill 
the  payments  for  the  Land  shall  be  made,  the  Town  Treasurer  be 
empowered  to  borrow  of  either  of  the  Banks  such  sums  of  money 
for  the  purchase  of  Materials  and  payment  of  Workmen  as  the 
Selectmen  shall  find  necessary ;  the  same  to  be  repaid  by  the 
proceeds  of  the  Land  — 


186  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  Audit  the  Accompts  of  the  Town 
Treasurer  &c  —  Report  — 

That  the  Treasurer  Credits  the  Town  of  Boston  with  sundry 
sums  of  money  received  by  him  to  the  amount  of  $121,632,44 
and  charges  the  Town  with  the  sum  of  $121,632.44  including  a 
ballance  of  $3073.67  in  the  Treasury  April  30.  1805  which  is 
represented  in  his  account  Current  Paper  N°  1 .  the  particulars  of 
said  debt  and  Credit  will  more  fully  appear  from  the  statement 
herewith  exhibited  and  annexed,  which  will  be  found  in  N°  2  A 
Summary  of  the  Cash  paid  monthly  by  the  Town  Treasurer  from 
May  1.  1804  to  30*^^  April  1805  taken  from  the  Account  Current, 
and  the  amount  of  the  dift'erent  drafts  drawn  on  the  Town 
Treasurer  monthly  from  May  1804  to  April  1805  by  the  Select- 
men Overseers  of  the  Poor  &  Board  of  Health,  and  the  money 
paid  them ;  also  the  money  paid  the  State  Treasurer,  County 
Treasurer,  Union  Bank,  Interest  money,  and  sundry  Creditors, 
and  the  amount  of  the  Outstanding  debts  are  all  comprehended 
in  N°  3.— 

The  Tryal  Ballance  in  the  Town  Treasurers  Books  of  debts  and 
credits  stands  April  30.  1805  $42146.17  in  N°.  4 

The  Committee  on  the  Mem°  of  Taxes  for  1802  committed 
to  the  several  Deputy  Collectors,  upon  the  expiration  of  6  M°. 
find  the  N°  of  Bills  to  be  2577  amounting  to  $11,873  86  the 
expence  of  collecting  which  amounted  to  $276,  and  for  1803  the 
N°  of  Bills  delivered  for  Collecting  to  be  2425  amounting  to 
$27,674.12,  the  expence  of  Collecting  not  settled  as  will  be  seen 
in  papers,  N°  5  &  6 

The  Committee  find  the  aforementioned  Accompts  to  be  well 
vouched  and  right  cast  (so  far  as  they  have  proceeded  in  the 
business)  All  which  will  be  more  fully  understood,  from  [389] 
the  Accompts  themselves  when  compared  with  the  Books. 

The  Committee  further  Report  that  from  Estimates  received 
there  will  be  wanting  for 

The  Selectmen $46000 

Overseers  of  the  Poor 15200 

Board  of  Health 4000 

State  Tax 17718 

County  Tax 14000 


$96,918 

The  Committee  therefore  are  of  opinion  that  the  Town  of 
Boston  Vote  a  Tax  to  be  raised  according  to  law  for  $100,000  for 
the  above  purposes  which  is  humbly  submitted 

Thomas  Dawes ") 

Samuel  Brown    >■  Committee 

Joseph  Russell  ) 


Boston  Town  Records,  1805.  187 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  &  considered  the 
Question  was  put  whether  the  same  shall  be  accepted  —  Passed 
in  the  Affirmative  — 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  Sixty  five  thousand  Dollars  be  raised 
by  a  Tax  to  be  Assessed  on  the  Polls  &  Estates  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  this  Town  to  defray  the  Expences  of  the  Current  Year  — 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  $300  be  allowed  and  paid  to  John 
Phillips  Esq  for  his  services  as  Town  Advocate  the  Year  ensuing. 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  $666,  be  allowed  and  paid  to  William 
Cooper  for  his  services  as  Town  Clei'k  the  Year  ensuing. 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  $816  be  allowed  and  paid  to  each  of 
the  three  Assessors  for  the  Year  ensuing.  — 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Auditors  of  Town  Accompts  be 
requested  to  consider  what  compensation  should  be  made  to  the 
Treasurer  for  his  own  services  —  those  of  his  Assistants,  and  for 
Office  Rent  the  present  Year.  — 

[390.]  Mr  Hunts  Petition  and  Report  thereon,  having  been 
read  and  debate  had  thereon  —  the  same  upon  Motion  is  referred 
for  further  consideration  to  the  Adjournment  of  this  Meeting  — 

On  Motion  Adjourned  to  Monday  next  10  oClock  A.M. 

Monday  the  27*^  of  May  10  oClock  A.M.  met  according  to 
Adjournment  — 

The  Committee  on  the  Town  Treasurers  Application  being  the 
Auditors  of  the  Town  Accompts,  Reported,  without  mentioning  a 
Sum  as  a  compensation  for  the  Treasurer  the  present  Year  —  his 
Application  again  taken  up  and  after  debate  Voted,  that  the 
Treasurer  be  allowed  and  paid  $1500  for  the  present  Year,  he  to 
pay  his  Clerk  Assistance,  Office  hire  and  all  expences  of  Office.  — 

Moved  and  Voted,  to  reconsider  the  Vote  of  the  acceptance  of 
the  Report  of  the  Auditors  of  Town  Accounts  so  far  only  as  it 
respected  Mr.  Sumner  the  Town  Treasurers  Account. 

Moved  and  Voted,  that  the  Report  of  the  Committee  to  Audit 
Town  Treasurers  Accompts  &c  be  recommitted  to  the  Auditors, 
for  the  sole  purpose  of  correcting  any  errors  that  may  be  found 
in  the  Town  Treasurers  Accounts 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  Petition  of  Samuel 
Hunt  the  late  Grammer  S.  Master  in  this  Town  have  attended 
that  service   and  have  heard  him  on  the  subject  of  his  several 


188  City  Document  No.  115. 

claims  for  House  rent,  deprivation  and  for  the  loss  of  future  em- 
ployment, and  in  consideration  of  his  having  spent  the  prime  of 
his  life  in  the  service  of  the  Town,  and  being  now  advanced  in 
Years  with  a  large  Family  to  provide  for,  and  the  School  Com- 
mittee having  by  a  Vote  declared  "  that  in  discharging  Mr.  Hunt 
they  do  not  mean  to  charge  him  with  the  want  of  disposition  to  be 
useful  as  an  Instructor,  or  to  fix  any  imputation  upon  his  prin- 
ciples and  character,  but  do  declare  their  favourable  opinion  of  his 
morals  and  private  virtues  and  their  sense  of  his  right  to  a  good 
consideration  among  his  Fellow  Citizens,"  and  the  said  School 
Committee  by  their  letter  to  Mr.  Hunt  dated  the  4''^  of  October 
1804.  did  encourage  him  to  make  application  to  the  Town  for 
an  Annual  stipend,  and  that  the  Committee  would  assist  him  in 
[^91]  such  application  with  all  their  influence. 

Your  Committee  also  being  impressed  with  the  importance  of 
giving  the  greatest  possible  encouragement  to  all  future  Gram- 
mer  vSchool  Masters,  by  evincing  to  them  the  provident  care  of 
the  Town  in  providing  for  them  in  old  age,  if  they  by  their  ser- 
vices and  merit  should  be  entitled  to  it ;  and  also  taking  into  con- 
sideration the  peculiar  circumstances  of  Mr.  Hunts  case,  beg 
leave  to  recommend  to  the  Town  to  Grant  Mr.  Samuel  Hunt  the 
late  Grammar  School  Master  in  this  Town  the  Sum  of  twenty  five 
hundred  Dollars  in  full  of  all  demands  against  the  Town,  all  which 
is  submitted. 

Stephen  Codman  per  Order 

The  aforegoing  Report  as  read  and  amended  in  this  Meeting 
was  accepted  by  the  Town  —  and  on  Motion  made  and  seconded 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  twenty  five  hundred  Dollars  be  and 
hereby  is  granted  to  Mr.  Samuel  Hunt  late  Grammar  School  Mas- 
ter in  this  Town,  to  be  in  full  of  all  demands  against  said  town. 

Voted,  that  all  matters  and  things  unfinished  in  this  Town 
Meeting  be  referred  for  consideration  to  the  next  General  Town 
Meeting. — 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Honbl.  Thomas 
Dawes  Esq  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[393.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
public  Town  Meeting  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the 
n*'^  June  A.  D.  1805  10  OClock  A.  M. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  Read. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1805.  189 

Honbl.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq  was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  Hand 

Vote 

The  Votes  for  a  Town  Treasurer  &  Collector  of  Taxes  being 
brought  In,  counted  &  sorted,  it  appeared  that  the  whole  number 
were  found  to  be  573,  of  which 

William  Smith  Esq  had 436 

and  was  chosen,  in   the  room  of  Mr   Sumner  who  had  resigned, 
as  per  resignation  on  file 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz  "To  consider  the  expediency 
of  faking  measures  for  the  more  equal  division  of  the  Wards  of 
the  Town  "  —  was  read,  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the  Poor  the  Members 
of  the  Board  of  Health,  and  Brigadier  General  of  the  Legionary 
Brigade  of  the  P*  Division  be  empowered  and  directed  to  make 
such  a  division  of  the  Town  into  Wards,  as  they  shall  judge  most 
for  the  convenience  and  advantage  of  the  Town  — 

That  the  said  new  division  of  Wards  take  place  the  1st  day  of 
February  next  — 

That  the  Representatives  of  this  Town  in  the  General  Court 
be  lustructed  to  apply  to  the  Legislature  for  any  confirmation  or 
assent  to  said  division  that  may  be  necessary  — 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  the  Honbl 
Thomas  Dawes  Esq  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator 

Then  the  Meetino-  was  dissolved 


[293.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders,  and  other  Inhabit- 
ants of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the 
4th  day  of  July  A.  D.  1805—9  0  Clock  A.  M. 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting  —  Read 

William  Cooper  chosen  Moderator. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  last  Year  to  make  choice  of  a 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  Inde- 
pendence —  Reported  that  they  had  made  choice  of  Warren  Dut- 
ton  Esq  who  has  accepted  of  the  appointment  — 

On  Motion,  Adjourned  to  Old  South  Church  when 


190  City  Document  No.  115. 


AN    ORATION 

to  commemorate  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  was  de- 
livered by  Warren  Button  Esq  at  the  Old  South  Church  — 

*  On  Motion  —  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to 
wait  on  Warren  Button  Esq  and  in  the  name  of  the  Town  to 
thank  him  for  the  elegant  and  spirited  Oration  this  Bay  delivered 
by  him  at  the  request  of  the  Town,  upon  the  Anniversary  of  the 
Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  which  accord- 
ing to  the  Institution  of  the  Town,  he  considered  the  manners 
feelings  and  principles  which  led  to  that  great  National  Event — 
and  to  request  of  him  a  Copy  thereof  for  the  Press  — 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  be  and  hereby 
are  appointed  a  Committee  to  apply  to  some  one  able  and  learned 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  4th  July  A.  B.  1806. 
that  Bay  being  the  Anniversar}?^  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America  wherein  the  Orator  is  to  consider  the 
feehngs  manners  and  principles  which  led  to  this  great  National 
event  as  well  [394]  as  the  important  and  happy  effects,  whether 
general  or  domestic  which  have  already  or  will  forever  flow  from 
that  auspicious  Epoch. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Bissolved 


1806. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  10*'^ 
Bay  March  A  :B  :  1806  10  OClock  A  :M  : 

Prayer  was  made  by  Rev^  Joseph  Eckley  B.B. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  Read. 

Sundry  Laws  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting  were  accordingly  read 

Stephen  Codman  Esq 
was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  Hand  Vote 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  a  Town  Clerk,  and  the  Votes  having  been  brought  in 
and  counted,  it  appeared  that  — 

William  Cooper 
was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  Year  ensuing,  and  the  Oath  of 
Office  administered  to  him  by  Mr.  Justice  Bulfinch  — 


Boston"  Towx  Records,   1806. 


191 


The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  9  Selectmen,  and  the  same  having  been  brought  in  and 
counted  it  appeared  that  the   following  G-entlemen  were   chosen 


Charles  Bulfinch  Esq 
David  Tilden  Esq 
William  Porter  Esq 
Mr  John  Tileston 


Mr  Ebenezer  Oliver 
Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esq 
John  May  Esq 
Francis  Wright  Esq 


John  Bray  Esq 
Adjourned  to  3  OClock  Afternoon 
[395.]      3  OClock  P  :M  :  Town  met 


Edward  Proctor  Esq 
Henry  Hill  Esq 

William  Smith  Esq 
Wilham  Philhps  Esq 
Bedford  Webster  Esq. 
Thomas  Perkins  Esq 


Mr  Samuel  Snelling 
Mr  Benjamin  Goddard 
Samuel  Clap  Esq 
Mr  Ozias  Goodwin 
Joseph  Coolidge  Jur  Esq 
Mr  William  Mackey 


were  chosen  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuino;. 


The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their 
when  it  appeared  that  the  following 
Viz 

Thomas  Melvill  Esq 

Samuel  Parkman  Esq 

Amasa  Davis  Esq 

Henry  Jackson  Esq 

William  ScolIayEsq 

Joseph  May  Esq 

Andrew  Cunningham  Esq 

Samuel  Bradford  Esq 

Joseph  Head  Esq 

Thomas  H  Perkins  Esq 
Gen^  John  Winslow  Esq 

Stephen  Codman  Esq 


Votes   for   24   Fire  Wards, 
Gentlemen  were  chosen  — 

John  Bray  Esq 
Mr  Thomas  Dennie 
Gen^  Simon  Elliot  Esq 
Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esq 
Daniel  Messenger  Esq 
Mr  Ozias  Goodwin 
Mr  Thomas  Curtis 
Joshua  Davis  Jun''  Esq 
Mr  John  D  Howard 
Mr  Benjamin  Coats 
William  Sullivan  Esq 
Mr  Benjamin  Smith 


[296.]  Voted,  that  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  twelve 
Persons  shall  now  be  chosen  a  school  committee  and  the  Votes 
being  brought  in  and  sorted,  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gen- 
tlemen were  chosen  Viz 


Honb^  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 
Rev*  Joseph  Eckley  DD 
Dr  Thomas  Welch  Esq 
Rev-i  J  T  Kirkland  DD 
Dr  Aaron  Dexter  Esq 
William  Smith  Esq 


Arnold  Welles  Esq 

David  Green  Esq 

Honb^  John  Phillips  Esq 

Rev*^  William  Emmerson 
John  Heard  Esq 
Charles  Davis  Esq 


Voted  that  the  above  named  Gentlemen   who   conjunctly  with 
the  Selectmen  are  termed  the  School  ComtniUee^  be  &  hereby  are 


192  City  Document  No.  115. 

directed  to  carry  the  7ieio  System  of  Education,  which  has  been 
adopted  by  the  Town  into  operation,  and  said  Committee  are  also 
authorized  and  empowered,  conjunctly  to  manage  and  regulate 
the  Officers  and  the  G-overnment  of  the  Schools  and  in  future  to 
execute  all  the  power  relative  to  the  Schools  &  Schoolmasters, 
which  the  Selectmen  or  such  Committee  are  authorized  by  the 
Laws  of  this  Commonwealth  or  the  Votes  of  the  Town  to  exer- 
cise ;   any  former  Vote  of  the  Town  notwithstanding. 

The  Votes  for  a  Town  Treasurer  &  Collector  of  Taxes,  being 
brought  in  it  appeared  that 

William  Smith  Esq 
was  chosen.  — 

Votes  for  a  Treasurer  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  brought  in  and 
counted  by  the  Moderator  &  Town  Clerk  when  it  appeared  that 
the  whole  number  was  213  &  that  they  were  all  for  Ebenezer 
Sever  Esq  a  discreet  suitable  person  &  a  Freeholder  and  Resident 
in  said  County. 

[297.]  Votes  for  a  County  Register  of  Deeds,  for  Suffolk 
brought  in  and  counted,  when  it  appeared  that  the  whole  number 
was  282  —  all  for  William  Alline  Esq  a  discreet  suitable  Person 
and  a  Freeholder  &  Resident  in  said  County. 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  a  Town  Advocate  for  the 
Municipal  Court  it  appeared  that 

Honbl  John  Phillips  Esq 
was  chosen 

Messrs.  Benjamin  White 
Moses  Ayers 
Daniel  Ingersol  Jur 
William  Darracot 
were  chosen  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Messrs.  Barney  Conner 

James  Cabbit  [Corbitt?] 
were  chosen  Haywards  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Messrs.  Samuel  Emmons 
James  Phillips 
were  chosen  Sm-veyors  of  Hemp  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Edward  Tuckerman  Esq 
Mr  Josiah  Snelling 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Wheat  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Mess  John  Wells 

William  Cooper  Hunneman 
were  chosen  Assay  Masters  for  the  Year  ensuing 


Boston  Town  Records,  1806.  193 

Mess  Jonathan  Gushing 
Joseph  Doble 
Elisha  Turner 
Thomas  Barbour 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Dry  Fish  for  the  ensuing  Year 

Henry  Purket  Esq 
Cap*  Lemuel  Gardner 
Mr  Thomas  Barbour 
Mr  James  Eunson 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Hoops  &  Staves  for  the  Year  ensuing 

The  Selectmen 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  High  Ways  for  the  Year  ensuing 

[298.]  Mr  Edward  Rumney 

was  chosen  Inspector  of  Stone  Lime  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Messrs  Benjamin  White 
John  Cogswell 
Daniel  Ingersol  Ju'' 
William  Clouston 
William  Darracot 
William  Ellison 
John  Butterfield 
Naty  Bradlee  Ju'^ 
Noah  Dogget 
Caleb  Coolidge 
Braddock  Loring 
Edward  Alline 
Thomas  Christy 
William  Green 
were   chosen    Surveyors    of    Boards    &    Shingles    for   the  Year 


Voted,  that  the  Hon''^  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 

Samuel  Brown  Esq 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the  Accompts 
of  the  Town  Treasurer  &  also  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  &  the 
Board  of  Health  ;  and  said  Committee  are  also  directed  to  report 
the  Sums  necessary  to  be  raised  for  the  services  of  the  present 
Year 

Voted  that  the  consideration  of  all  Money  Matters  be  referred 
to  May  Meeting 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz  ' '  To  determine  whether  the 
Town  will  consider  it  expedient  to  take  any  measures  relative  to 
the  rebuilding  of  the  Rope  Walks  at  the  bottom  of  the  Common  " 


194  City  Document  No.  115. 

read  —  whereupon  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to 
consider  this  matter  and  Report  thereon  at  the  Adjournment. 

Cap*  Chapman  having  declined  serving  as  a  Selectman,  Voted, 
that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  him  for  his  good  services 
in  that  Office  for  a  number  of  Years  past. 

Mr  Gray  &  Mr  Quincy  having  declined  serving  as  a  School 
Conmaittee,  Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  them 
for  their  good  services  while  on  the  Committee 

'  [399.]  Mr  Judah  Hayes  &  R  G-  Amory  Esq  having  declined 
serving  as  Fire  Wards,  had  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  for  their 
good  services  while  in  the  Office  of  Fire  "Wards 

A  letter  of  Samuel  Parkman  Esq  acquainting  the  Selectmen 
that  he  had  obtained  an  elegant  full  length  Portrait  of  the 
Immortal  Washington  copied  by  an  eminent  Artist  from  an 
original  painting  by  the  celebrated  Stuart,  and  desiring  them  to 
present  the  Picture  in  his  Name  to  the  Town  of  Boston,  to  be 
placed  in  a  conspicuous  part  of  Faneuil  Hall  —  having  been  read 
—  it  was  moved  and  voted  that  this  valuable  and  pleasing  dona- 
tion is  gratefully  accepted  by  the  Town,  and  ordered  to  be  placed 
in  Faneuil  Hall  agreeable  to  the  Patriotic  intention  of  the  Donor 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday  the  19^^  of  March  Inst  1806  10 
OClock  A.  M. 

Wednesday  the  19*^  of  March  A  :  D  :  1806  10  OClock  A  :  M  : 
Met  according  to  adjournment 

Major  Bray  having  by  letter  declined  ser^dng  in  the  Office  of 
Selectman  into  which  he  had  been  chosen  —  The  Town  Voted,  to 
proceed  immediately  to  the  choice  of  another  and  the  Votes  being 
brought  in  for  one  Selectmen  it  appeared  that 

Deacon  Joseph  Kettell 
was  chosen 

The  Selectmen  ha^^ng  been  directed  to  consider  the  subject  of 
the  Rebuilding  the  Rope  Walks  at  the  bottom  of  the  Common, 
Report 

That  the  Town  in  1794  granted  to  the  Proprietors  of  the  late 
Rope  Walks  the  ground  on  which  they  stood,  for  that  purpose 
and  no  other  use  whatever ;  and  that  the  Proprietors  have  done 
nothing  to  forfeit  their  right  of  rebuilding  upon  their  complying 
with  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  grant  from  the  Town  to  be 
explained  as  follows 

That  they  make  and  forever  maintain  a  good  and  sufficient  Sea 
Wall  at  the  South  of  their  Ropewalks  to  be  kept  in  good  repair 


Boston  Town  Records,  1806.  195 

to  the  Satisfaction  of  the  Selectmen — That  such  Proprietors  shall 
build  a  Brick  Store,  or  Head  to  his  Rope  Walks  30  feet  wide  in 
front,  and  at  least  two  Stories  high — That  such  Proprietors  shall 
build  his  Yarn  [300]  and  Tar  House  &  Coppers,  in  such  situ- 
ation and  in  such  manner  as  the  Fire  Wards  shall  direct. 

Under  these  conditions  and  subject  to  the  Restrictions  of  the 
law  regulating  the  erection  of  Buildings  in  this  Town,  the  Com- 
mittee confide  in  every  reasonable  measure  to  be  adopted  to 
secure  the  Town  from  danger  from  the  Ropewalks  that  may  in 
future  be  built  on  that  ground — 

The  foregoing  Report  having  been  read  and  debate  had 
thereon — the  Question  was  put,  and  the  Report  accepted — 

On  application  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  one  Surveyor  of 
Boards  &c,  was  added  to  those  already  chosen — and  the  Votes, 
being  brought  in,  it  appeared  that 

Mr  Eleazer  Homer 
was  chosen 

Voted  that  any  other  matter  unfinished  be  referred  to  May 
Meeting 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Stephen 
Codman  Esq.  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator — 

Then  the  Meetins;  was  Dissolved 


[301.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Boston  of  21  years  of  age  and  upwards  qualified  as  the  Constitu- 
tion prescribes  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meeting 
Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  7"^  Day  April  Anno 
Domini  1806  9  OClock  A  :  M  : 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Rev*^  Mr  Emerson. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  Read 

Paragraphs  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government  relative 
to  the  choice  of  Governor,  Lieut  Governor  and  Senators  —  Read 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Vote  should  be 
received  but  such  as  are  unfolded,  and  that  they  propose  the  Poll 
should  be  closed  at  2  OClock  P :  M  :  the  Votes  to  be  received  at 
the  Table  and  the  Bells  to  begin  ringing  at  ^  past  1  OClock  and 
to  continue  for  half  an  Hour 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Governour,  with  the  number  of  Votes 
for  each  Person  Viz 


196  City  Document  No.  115. 

Votes 

His  Excellency  Caleb  Strong  Esq    -     -     .     .     -     2503 

Honbl  James  Sullivan  Esq 1605 

Honbl  Elbridge  Gerry 6 

Persons  Voted,  for  as  lieut  governour,  with  the  number  of 

Votes  for  each  Person  Viz Votes 

Honb^  Edward  H  Robbins  Esq 2444 

Honbl  William  Heath  Esq 1650 

Honb^  Henry  Knox 3 

Honbl  David  Cobb      .------.  2 

Person  Voted  for  as  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  with 

the  number  of  Votes  for  each  Person  Viz Votes 

Honb'  Chris'^  Gore  Esq 2489 

Honbl  Harrison  G  Otis  Esq 2472 

D""  WiUiam  Spooner  Esq 2452 

Honbl  John  Phillips  .Esq       ------  2484 

Peter  C  Brooks 2472 

[303.]      Honbl  David  Tilden  Esq 1684 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq    -     - 1626 

Edward  Proctor  Esq  -     -     - 1632 

Samuel  Clap  Esq  --- -  1625 

David  Townsend  Esq       - 1622 

Attested    Copies   of  the    Persons    Voted    for  as    governour 
LIEUT  GOVERNOUR  and  senators,  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  sealed 
up  in  Town  Meeting  after   the   Votes    had   been   declared,  and 
transmitted  to  the  Secretary  of  this  Commonwealth 
Superscribed  as  follows  Viz 

For  John  Avery  Esquire 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

The  number  of  Votes  of  the  Town  of  Boston  for,  Governour 
Lieut  Governour  &  five  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk, 
Certified  within  and  Sealed  up  in  Town  Meeting  after  the  Votes 
had  been  declared 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved 


[303.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  of  21  Years  of  Age  and  upwards  qualified  as  the 
Constitution  prescribes  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meet- 
ing Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  4*i^  Day  of 
May  A  :  D  :   1806  9  O  Clk  A  :  M  : 

The  Meeting  was  opened  with  Prayer  by  Rev"^  Dr  Kirkland 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  Read 


Boston  Town  Records,  1806.  197 

That  part  of  the  Constitution  or  frame  of  Government  which 
relates  to  the  choice  of  Representatives  —  Read 

The  Town  having  determined  by  a  Vote  to  choose  27  Persons 
to  Represent  them  in  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  to  be 
held  in  the  State  House  in  Boston  on  the  last  Wednesday  of  May 
Current  agreeable  to  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government 
—  for  Massachusetts ;  The  Inhabitants  were  directed  by  the 
Selectmen  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their  Votes  for  27  Represent- 
atives, and  then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen,  that  no  Votes 
would  be  received  by  them  but  such  as  are  unfolded  and  untill 
the  names  of  the  Persons  entering  shall  be  marked  on  the  List 
by  the  Gentlemen  who  assist  for  that  purpose  from  the  several 
Wards  and  that  they  propose  the  Poll  shall  be  closed  at  2  OClock, 
the  Bells  to  begin  ringing  at  ^  past  1  OClock  and  to  continue 
untill  2  OClock 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  27  Representatives  the  whole 
number  was  found  to  be  1258  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared 
that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen,  having  obtained  a 
majority  of  the  Votes  Viz't 

Votes 

William  Smith  Esq 1242 

Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esq 1237 

William  Sullivan  Esq -  1241 

John  Wells  Esq 1238 

Jonathan  Mason  Esq 1238 

Thomas  H  Perkins  Esq 1238 

WiUiam  Brown  Esq 1230 

Samuel  Parkman  Esq 1230 

John  Winslow  Esq 1242 

Edward  Tuckerman  Esq 1238 

Deacon  Francis  Wright  Esq 1239 

Redford  Webster  Esq     -     -     -     -     -     -     .  1238 

Thomas  Perkins  Esq      -     - 1242 

Daniel  Sargent  Esq 1240 

William  PhilUps  Esq 1239 

[304.]        Stephen  Codman  Esq 1232 

Simon  Elliot  Esq  -     - 1240 

Benjamin  Russell  Esq 1231 

Mr  Thomas  W  Sumner    - 1236 

John  Callander  Esq   - 1233 

Dr  Thomas  Danforth 1237 

John  T  Apthorp  Esq 1236 

Charles  Davis  Esq 1223 

Mr  Benjamin  Goddard 1227 

Mr  Thomas  K  Jones -     .  1236 

Benjamin  Whitman  Esq -     .  1192 

Mr  James  Lloyd  Ju"^  Esq 1239 


198  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen 

The  Meeting;  was  Dissolved 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned  in  public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the  lo*'^  Day  of 
May  Anno  Domini  1806  10  0  Clock  A :  M  : 

Warrant  for  caUing  Meeting  —  Read. 

Honb^  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 
was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  Hand  Vote 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  6  Trustees  for  Towns  Land,  on  the  Neck,  in  addition 
to  the  Selectmen  who  conjunctly,  are  to  Lease  and  manage  said 
Lands  in  such  manner  as  shall  appear  to  them  best  for  the  inter- 
est of  the  Town  —  the  Votes  being  brought  in  and  sorted,  it 
appeared  that 

Honb^  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 

Gen^  John  Win  slow 
Honb^  William  Brown  Esq 

Joshua  Davis  Jur  Esq 
Honb^  William  Phillips  Esq 

Edward  Tuckerman  Esq 
were  chosen. 


[305.]  At  a  legal  Meeting  of  Freeholders  and  other  Inhab- 
itants of  the  Town  of  Boston  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  10*^  day 
of  March  A  :  D  :  1806  10  OClock  A  :  M  :  Voted  that  the  Sub- 
scribers ' '  be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the 
Accompts  of  the  Town  Treasurer  Overseers  of  the  Poor  &  the 
Board  of  Health ;  and  said  Committee  are  directed  to  report  the 
sum  necessary  to  be  raised  for  the  services  of  the  present  Year," 
having  attended  that  service  they  submit  the  following  Report 
viz 

The  Treasurer  Credits  the  Town  of  Boston  with ")  j^^p  q^^ 

sundry  sums  of  Money  received  by  him  to  the  >- 

Am*  of  )  91998,67 

The  Treasurer  Charges  the  Town  with  the  sum  of  -  91998,67 

including  a  balance  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer 
of  $1213,37  May  8"^^  carried  to  new  Account  as 
represented  in  paper  N°  1 


Boston  Town  Records,  1806.  199 

Paper  N°  2  contains  the  particulars  of  Cash  paid 
on  sundry  Drafts  from  June  1805  to  April  1806  as 

p-^AcctCurrt 4788.91 

Ballance  due  to  sundry  Persons      -     -     -  1085.98 

and  amount  of  Moneys  paid  the  Proprietors  of  S" 
Boston  Bridge  by  Note  p"^  Order  of  the  Selectmen  -  2277. 

51251.89 

By  amt  of  outstanding  debts  p""  the  late  Treasurer's 

Books 484.49 

By  sundry  drafts  from  the    Selectmen  from  June 

1805  to  April  1806  pr  Ace*  Curr*  Amounting  to      -  50767.40 

51251.89 

Selectmens  Drafts 
Amt  of  Cash  paid  on  sundry  drafts  p"^  Acct 

Current  from  June  1805  to  April  1806     -     -     -     -  10397.  3 

Ballance  due  to  sundry  persons -  2419.48 

12816.51 

To  Cash  paid  on  sundry  drafts  from  June  1805   to 

April  1806  p' Account  Current 3301.75 

To  Ballance  due  to  sundry  persons 59.83 

3361.58 

Represents  the  Statement  of  State  and  County  Taxes 
To  Cash  paid  into  the  State  Treasury   from  June 

1805  to  April  1806 I$17672.   0 

To  Am*  due  the  State  17718.  0 

To  Cash  paid  Ebenezer  Seaver  C°  Treasurer  from 

June  1805  to  April  1806  p""  Acct  Curr*     -     -     -     -  10730.73 

Amount  due  the  County  of  Suffolk 6873.70 

117604.43 

[306.]  Paper  N°  4  Represents  the  Statement  of 

Taxes  for  1803 
Amount  due  by  the  late  Treasurers  Books     -     -     -  $1253.59 

By  Amt  outstanding  on  Sundry  drafts  on  the  late 

Treasurers  Books 516.  3 

By  Sundry  drafts  from  the  Overseers  from  April 

1805  to  June  1806 12300.48 

12816.51 


200 


City  Document  No.  115. 


By  Sundry  Drafts  from  the  Board  of  Health  from 
April  1805  to  June  1806  Amounting  to     -     -     - 

By  Amt  due  the  Commonwealth  by  the  late  Treas- 
urers Books         

State  Tax  for  1805  Amt  Assessed 

County  Tax  for  1805 
By  Amt  due  on  this  Tax  to  the  County  as  by  the 

late  Treasurers  Books 

Tax  for  1805  p'^  Amt  Assessed ■ 

By  Cash  received  from  June  26  to  April  SO*'^  1806 

as  p""  Account  Current 

By  abatement 

By  ballance  due __. 


3361.58 

517672." 
17718." 


3765.43 
13839." 

117604.43 


135.61 

4.10 

1113.88 

$1253.59 


Tax  for   1805  due  p"^  the  late  Treasurers  Books        $22262.99 


$44379.85 


Tax  for  1805  Amt  Assessed -        $96557, 

Ballance  of  Tax  1803 $1113.88 

Ballance  of  Tax  1804       -     .     .     .     .         8790.57 
Ballance  of  Tax  1805 34475.40 


Paper   N°  5    Represents  the  Income  of  the    Towns  Rents  Viz 

Old  State  House  p"^  Year 4900.  " 

Market  Square  p'  Year 520.  " 

4  Stalls  at  $2  p""  Week 416.  " 

4D«  at  $1.50  p'D°    - 312." 

Deer  Island  p' Year 300- " 

Hay  Market  Income  about -  200.  " 

Salt  Marsh 105.  " 


1753.  0 


[307.]     By  Cash  received  from  June  26  1805 

to  April  30*1^  1806  as  p""  Acct  Current     -     -          -     -  13274.3 

By  abatements -  198.39 

By  ballance  due 8790.57 


$22262.99 


Boston  Town  Records,  1806. 


201 


By  Cash  received  from  October  l^*-  1805 

to  April  30*^  1806  as  p"^  Acct  Current  -     -     -     - 

By  abatements .__- 

By  premiums  allowed  Oct^   -     -     -     -  $1238.1") 

Novem'  -     -     -  777.87  | 

Decern''    -     -     -  67.22  ^ 

Jany  -     -     -     -  33.14 

Febr^      -     -     -  40.63 


Ballance  due 


$59355.78 
568.95 


2156.87 


34,475.40 

$96,557.   " 


Paper  N°  6  Eepresents  Amounts  of  Notes  due  Sundry  Persons 

Viz    Benjamin  Barker 1544.17 

Eliz  Partridge 772.8 

Selectmen  of  Boston     -     -     -     -         1230.  " 

Estate  of  Jn°  Gray 107.  " 

Mary  Hammond 1050.  " 

Union  Bank 8000.  " 

Tuthill  Hubbart  ---_--         3333.33 

Russell  Sturgis 2800.  " 

S°  Boston  Bridge  Corp^      ....         2277." 

Union  Bank 1200.  " 

;13.58 


Paper  N"  7  Represents  Tryal  Ballance 

Towns  Powder 

Town  Treasurers 

William  Tewksbury 

Notes  Receivable    -.--  

1803  Tax 1113.88 

1804 8790.57 

1805 34475.40 

Cash  Account   ------ 


1041.95 

6403.29 

210.82 

754.13 


44379.85 
1213.37 

$54003.41 


[308.]     Notes  payable  -     - 22313.58 

State  Tax 17718.  " 

County  Tax 6873.50 

Outstanding  debts 7098.33 


$54003.41 


202 


City  Document  No.  115. 


Paper  N°  8  Represents  the  Estimate  for  1806 

School  Masters 

Town  Watch 

Town  Treasurers  &  Collector 

Assessors  3  at  $8.16  each 

Police  Officers 

Constables  Services 

Engines  premiums  Repaims  &c  -  -  -  -  - 
Monies  Voted  by  Town  to  Mr  Hunt  -  -  - 
Repairs  of  Schools  &  Firewood  .  .  .  - 
Lamps  Oil  &  Lighting      ------- 

Town  Clerk 

Messenger  of  Selectmen 

Judge  of  Municipal  Court  &  Advocate    -     - 

Printing  &  Stationery 

Bells  and  Clocks -     -     -     - 

Incidental  Charges 

Paving  Streets 


Besides  the  above  current  charges  there  is 
due  the  Amt  of  award  for  widening  Merchants 
Row  after  deducting  Subscriptions  -     -     -     - 
Towards  Expence  of  Enlarging  Faneuil  Hall     -     - 

For  Overseers  of  the  Poor 

For  Board  of  Health  -      --------- 

Amount  of  Estimate 


13000.  " 

6500.  " 

1500.  " 

2448.  " 

1000.  " 

300.  " 

600.  " 

2500.  " 

1100.  " 

5000.  " 

666.66 

300-" 

700-" 

400-" 

400-" 

1285-" 

8000-" 


46000- 

_t  t 

5000- 

_u 

10000. 

ii 

15000. 

u 

4000. 

a 

The  Committee  find  the  aforementioned  Accounts  to  be  well 
vouched  and  right  cast  (so  far  as  they  have  time  to  proceed  in 
the  Business)  all  which  will  clearly  appear  from  the  Accounts 
exhibited  when  compared  with  the  Books. 

The  Committee  advise  that  the  Statements  by  Mr.  Treasurer 
Smith  as  reported  be  Recorded  in  the  Town  Book  that  is  kept 
in  the  Selectmens  Office,  and  the  said  record  be  [309]  com- 
paired  with  said  Accompts,  as  there  have  been  several  Treasurers 
within  a  few  years  many  advantages  may  arise  by  having 
recourse  to  such  records. 

The  Committee  further  report  that  from  Estimates  received 
there  will  be  wanting  for  the  Selectmen  including  $10,000  towards 

repairing  Faneuil  Hall 61.000  —  " 

For  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  ----_--       15000-" 
For  the  Board  of  Health     - 4000 -" 


Making      $80  000-" 


They  therefore  are  of  oppinion  that  the  Town  of  Boston  Vote  a 


Boston  Town  Recoeds,  1806.  203 

Tax  for  $80,000  according  to  law  for  the  above  mentioned  pur- 
poses ;■  which  is  humbly  submitted. 

Thomas  Dawes 


o  1  T1  r  Comm*^® 

bamuel  isrown 

N.  B.  It  will  be  remembered  that  in  addition  to  the  above 
Eighty  Thousand  Dollars  There  will  be  a  State  Tax  for  the 
Seventeen  Thousand  D**  and  for  County  Tax  Ten  Thousand  D*". 
making  in  the  whole  One  Hundred  and  seven  Thousand  Dollars 
to  be  assessed  for  the  Current  Year. 

The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  and  considered  —  the 
Question  was  put  "Whether  the  same  shall  be  accepted"  — 
Passed  in  the  Affirmative  —  and  on  Motion  Voted  that  the  addi- 
tional Sum  of  ten  thousand  Dollars,  be  appropriated  for  widening 
and  improving  Battery  March  Street  and  other  Streets  of  the 
Town  to  be  applied  under  the  direction  of  the  Selectmen 

Voted,  that  Eighty  Thousand  Dollars  making  with  the  above 
appropriation  the  sum  of  90,000  Dollars  be  raised  by  a  Tax  to  be 
assessed  on  the  Polls  and  Estates  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town 
to  defray  the  Expences  of  the  Current  Year. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  $300  —  be  allowed  and  paid  to  the 
Honb^  John  Phillips  Esq  for  his  services  as  Town  Advocate  the 
Year  ensuing. 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  $816  be  allowed  and  paid  to  each  of  the 
three  Assessors  for  the  ensuing  Year. 

Voted,  that  the  Honb^  William  Smith  Esq  be  allowed  and  paid 
as  Town  Treasurer  &  Collector  of  Taxes  for  the  present  Year 
the  Sum  of  $1500  —  he  to  pay  his  Clerk,  Assistant,  Office  hire, 
and  all  expences  of  office. 

[310.]  Voted  that  the  Selectmen,  be  empowered  and 
directed  to  make  the  Town  Clerk  such  G-rants  for  Salary  and  the 
rise  of  Provisions  as  shall  be  equal  to  what  has  been  allowed  the 
Masters  of  the  Writing  Schools  for  the  time  past  and  the  present 
Year  — 

Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  The  Honb^  Tom^ 
Dawes  Esq  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Friday  the  4"'  Day 
of  July  A  :D  :  1806  9  OClock  A  :M  : 


204  City  Document  No.  115. 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting    -     -     Read 

William  Cooper 
was  chosen  Moderator 

The  Committee  appointed  the  last  year  to  make  choice  of  G-en- 
tleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  Indepen- 
dence 

Reported,  that  they  had  made  choice  of  Francis  Dana  Chan- 
ning  Esq,  who  has  accepted  of  the  appointment  — 

On  Motion  Adjourned  to  the  Old  South  Church,  when 

AN   ORATION 

to  commemorate  the  Independence  of  the  United  States,  was 
delivered  by  Francis  Dana  Channing  Esq  at  the  Old  South 
Church  — 

On  Motion  Voted  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  wait 
on  Francis  Dana  Channing  Esq  and  in  the  Name  of  the  Town  to 
thank  him  for  the  Elegant  and  Spirited  Oration  this  day  delivered 
by  him  at  the  request  of  the  Town  upon  the  Anniversary  of  the 
Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America  in  which  accord- 
ing to  the  Intention  of  the  Town  he  considered  the  manners  feel- 
ings and  principles  which  led  to  that  great  National  Event  — 
and  to  request  of  him  a  Copy  for  the  Press  — 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  be  and  hereby 
are  appointed  a  Committee  to  apply  to  some  able  [311]  and 
learned  G-entleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  A^^  July  A  :D  : 
1807,  that  Day  being  the  Anniversary  of  the  Independence  of 
the  United  States  of  America,  wherein  the  Orator  is  to  consider 
the  feelings  manners  and  principles  which  led  to  this  great 
National  Event;  as  well  as  the  important  and  happy  effects 
whether  general  or  domestic  which  have  already,  or  will  forever 
flow  from  that  auspicious  Epoch  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved 


At  a  meeting  of  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston,  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  the  3d  Day  of  November 
A  :D:  1806  9  OClock  A  :M  : 

Prayer  was  made  by  Rev*^  Mr  Lowell  — 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting --     Read 


Boston  Town  Records,  1806.  205 

Paragraph  of  a  Resolve  of  the  General  Court  for  the  choice  of 
one  Representative  for  the  Suffolk  District  of  this  Commonwealth 
in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  &c         Read 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  the  Poll  would  be 
closed  at  2  OClock  P  :M:  the  Bells  to  begin  tolling  at  h  past  1 
OClock. 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Representative  for  the  Suffolk  District  in 
this  Commonwealth  in  the  next  Congress  of  the  United  States  — 
Viz 

Honbl  Josiah  Quincy  Esq  Sixteen  hundred  seventy  three  Votes 
James  Prince  Esq  Nine  hundred  &  two  Votes 

Honbl  William  Eustice  Esq  Three  Votes 

Mr  Caleb  Bingham  One  D° 
and  declaration  made  thereof  in  the  Meeting  by  the  Selectmen  a 
return  of  the  doings  of  this  Meeting,  made  out  and  put  into  the 
hands  of  Mr  Sheriff"  Allen  to  be  given  to  the  Honbl  Jonathan  L 
Austin  Esq  Secretary  of  this  Commonwealth,  which  return  was 
in  exact  conformity  to  the  one  inserted  in  the  last  Town  Officer. 

Then  the  Meeting;  was  Dissolved 


[312.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the 
29*'^  Day  of  December  A  :D:   1806  —  10  OClock  A  :M  : 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting Read 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 
chosen  Moderator  by  a  Hand  Vote  — 

The  article  in  the  Warrant  viz  ' '  To  take  measures  for  renewing 
the  Jury  Box,  according  to  law  —  Read  —  and  after  consideration 
—  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  regulate  the  Jury 
Boxes — from  the  Names  laid  before  the  Town  for  that  purpose— 

The  article  in  the  Warrant  "To  consider  &  act  upon  the  claim 
of  the  Heirs  of  the  late  Governour  Hancock  to  Land  on  Beacon 
Hill "  —  read  whereupon  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  com- 
mittee to  examine  and  search  into  this  claim  employing  such 
Counsel  as  they  shall  Judge  proper  —  and  report  at  March  Meet- 
ing. 

On  the  Application  of  Messrs  Stutson  &  Seth  Thayer  for  a 
portion  of  a  Passage  way  leading  to  Ann  Street  &c  — 

Voted  that  this  article  in  the  Warrant,  be  referred  to  the  Gen- 
tlemen Firewards,  who  are  desired  to  Report  thereon  at  March 
Meetinff. 


206  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  article  in  Warrant,  viz  ' '  To  choose  one  or  more  Agents  to 
appear  in  behalf  of  the  Town  to  defend  a  Suit  instituted  by  Oliver 
Wendell  Esq  for  recovery  of  Land  &  Flatts  in  Battery  March 
Street  being  part  of  the  S°  Battery  &  Flatts  before  the  same, 
conveyed  and  warranted  by  the  Town  to  the  late  John  Rowe  Esq 
in  the  Year  1785  "  — was  read  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  authorized  and 
empowered  to  be  Agents  for  the  Town  in  this  Matter,  they  to 
employ  such  Counsel  as  they  may  Judge  to  be  needful  — 

The  article  in  the  Warrant  "  To  empower  the  Trustees  of  the 
Neck  Land,  to  make  an  exchange  of  Land  with  Messrs  Isaac  P 
Davis  &  William  Pain,  to  render  the  boundary  line  between  them 
and  the  Town  more  convenient  —  read  &  considered  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Trustees  of  the  Neck  Land  be  authorized  and 
empowered  to  make  such  exchange  of  Land  with  Messrs  Isaac  P 
Davis  &  Compy  as  will  promote  the  Interest  of  [313]  the  Town 
in  the  arrangement  of  the  Lots,  and  for  that  purpose  they  be 
authorized  to  execute  Deeds,  to  convey  so  much  of  the  Town  Land 
as  may  be  necessary  &  to  receive  of  Messrs  Davis  &  Comp^  a 
good  and  sufficient  Deed  of  so  much  of  their  Land,  as  in  the 
Judgment  of  said  Trustees  may  be  just  and  right. 

The  article  in  the  Warrant  ' '  To  empower  the  Trustees  of  the 
Neck  Land  to  locate  a  suitable  place  on  the  Neck  for  a  Meeting 
House  &  Burying  Ground  —  was  read  —  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  Trustees  of  the  Neck  Laud  be  authorized  and 
empowered  to  lay  out  and  assigne  a  piece  or  pieces  of  Land  in 
suitable  situations  on  the  Neck  for  a  Meeting  House  Lot  and 
Burying  Ground,  and  that  they  be  empowered  to  execute  Deeds  to 
convey  so  much  of  said  Lands  as  may  be  necessary  to  any  relig- 
eous  Association  who  shall  first  undertake  to  build  and  shall  erect 
a  place  of  religious  worship  — 

On  the  article  in  the  Warrant  to  confirm  the  proceedings  of  the 
Selectmen  with  Jonathan  Harris  Esq  relative  to  a  piece  of  Land 
&  Water  Course  in  Water  Street  — 

Voted,  that  the  Town  would  ratify  and  confirm  the  agreement 
made  with  Jonathan  Harris  Esq  and  for  that  purpose  the  Select- 
men are  authorized  &  empowered  to  execute  and  receive  such 
Deeds  &  Instruments  as  may  be  necessary  — 

Matters  unfinished  refered  to  March  Meeting- 
Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  Honb^  Joseph 

Russell  Esqr  for  the  good  dispatch  given  by  him  as  Moderator  to 

the  business  of  the  Meeting 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved 


Boston  Town  Records,  1807.  207 


1807. 

[314.]  A.t  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faueuil  Hall  on  Monday  the 
9*'^  Day  of  March  A  :D  :  1807  10  OClock  A  :M  : 

Prayer  was  made  by  Rev*^  Mr  Eaton 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -     -     Read 

Sundry  Laws  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting  were  accordingly  (part 
of  them)  read 

Stephen  Codman  Esqr  was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  Hand  Vote, 
but  by  his  desire  was  excused  on  account  of  a  Cold 

Honb^  Joseph  Russell  Esqr 
was  chosen  Moderator  of  the  Meeting  &  took  the  Chair  accord- 
ingly. 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  a  Town  Clerk  and  the  same  being  brought  in  and 
counted  it  appeared  that 

William  Cooper 
was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  Year  ensuing,  and  took  the  Oath 
of  Office,  which  was  administered  to  him  by  Mr  Justice  Bulfinch 

The  Inhabitants,  were  desired  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  9  Selectmen,  and  the  same  having  been  brought  in  and 
counted,  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen  — 
Viz 

Charles  Bulfinch  Esqr.  Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esqr 

David  Tilden  Esqr  John  May  Esqr 

William  Porter  Esqr  Francis  Wright  Esqr 

Mr  Ebenezer  Oliver  Deacon  Joseph  Kettle 

Mr  Jonathan  Chapman 

Previous  to  the  counting  the  Votes  for  Selectmen  a  Motion  was 
made,  which  did  not  obtain,  that  a  Committee  might  be  chosen  to 
assist  the  Selectmen  in  counting  and  sorting  their  Votes. — 

A  Motion  was  also  made  &  Voted,  that  the  Poll  for  choice  of 
Selectmen,  be  closed,  at  ^  past  12  OClock,  but  another  that  no 
Votes  be  counted  untill  the  Poll  was  closed  did  not  obtain  — 

[315.]     Adjourned  untill  3  OClock  P.M. 


208  City  Document  Ko.  115. 

3  OClock  P  :M  :  Town  Met 

Edward  Proctor  Esq  Mr  Samuel  Snelling 

Henry  Hill  Esq  Mr  Benjamin  Goddard 

WilKam  Smith  Esq  Samuel  Clap  Esq 

William  Phillips  Mr  Ozias  Goodwin 

Dr  Bedford  Webster  Esq  Mr  William  Mackey 

Thomas  Perkins  Esq  Joseph  Cooledge  Jur  Esq 
were  chosen  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Thomas  MeMll  Esq  Gen^  Simon  Elliot  Esq 

Amasa  Davis  Esq  Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esq 

Henry  Jackson  Esq  Daniel  Messenger  Esq 

Joseph  May  Esq  Mr  Ozias  Goodwin 

Andrew  Cunningham  Esq  Mr.  Thomas  Curtis 

Samuel  Bradford  Esq  Joshua  Davis  Jur  Esq 

Joseph  Head  Esq  Mr  John  D  Howard 

Thomas  H  Perkins  Esq  Mr  Benjamin  Coates 

Gen^  John  Winslow  Esq  William  Sullivan  Esq 

Stephen  Codman  Esq  Mr  Benjamin  Smith 

John  Bray  Esq  John  T  Apthorp  Esq 

Mr  Thomas  Dennie  Ignatius  Sargent  Esq 
were  chosen  Fire  Wards  for  the  Year  ensuing 

[316.]  On  Motion  Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be 
given  to  Mr  John  Tileston  for  his  good  services  as  a  Selectman, 
a  number  of  Years  past 

Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  town  be  given  to  Samuel  Park- 
man  &  William  Scollay  Esq  for  their  good  services  as  Fire  Wards, 
a  number  of  Years  past 

The  Votes  for  a  Town  Advocate  in  the  room  of  Honb^  John 
Phillips  Esq  who  had  resigned  that  Office ;  being  brought  in 
counted  and  sorted,  it  appeared  that 

Peter  Thatcher  Esq 
was  chosen  into  that  Office 

Voted,  that  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  12  Persons  shall  now 
be  chosen  a  School  Committee  and  the  Votes  being  brought  in 
and  sorted  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen 
Viz 

HonV  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 

Rev*^  Joseph  Eckly  D  D 

Dr  Thomas  Welch  Esq 

Rev'^  J  T  Kirkland  D  D 

Dr  Aaron  Dexter  Esq 

William  Smith  Esq 

Arnold  Wells  Esq 
■    David  Green  Esq 


Boston  Town  Recokds,  1807.  209 

Honb^  John  Phillips  Esq 
Rev''  William  Emerson 
John  Heard  Esq 
Charles  Davis  Esq 

Voted,  that  the  above  named  Gentlemen  who  conjunctly  with 
the  Selectmen  are  termed,  the  School  Committee  be  and  hereby 
are  directed  to  carry  the  new  System  of  Edacation  which  has 
been  adopted  by  the  Town  into  operation,  and  said  Comm^®  are 
also  authorized  and  empowered  conjunctly  to  manage  and  regulate 
the  officers,  and  the  Government  of  the  Schools,  and  in  future  to 
execute  all  the  Powers  relative  to  the  Schools  &  Schoolmasters, 
which  the  Selectmen  or  such  Committee  were  authorized  by  the 
Laws  of  the  Commonwealth  or  the  Votes  of  the  Town  to  exercise, 
any  former  Votes  of  the  Town  notwithstanding 

[317.]  The  Votes  for  a  Town  Treasurer  &c  Collector  of 
Taxes,  being  brought  in  &  sorted,  it  appeared  that 

William  Smith  Esq 
was  chosen  — 

Votes  for  a  Treasurer  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  brought  in  and 
counted  by  the  Moderator  &  Town  Clerk  when  it  appeared  that 
the  whole  number  was  306  and  that  they  were  all  for  Ebenezer 
Sever  Esq  a  discreet  suitable  Person,  and  a  Freeholder  and 
resident  in  said  County 

Messrs  Benjamin  White 
Moses  Ayers 
Daniel  Ingersol  Ju"" 
were  chosen  Fence  Viewers  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Messrs  Barney  Connor 
Joseph  Cobbit 
were  chosen  Hogreeves  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Messrs  Barney  Connor 
Joseph  Cobbit 
were  chosen  Haywards  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Messrs  Samuel  Emmons 
James  Phillips 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Hemp  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Edward  Tuckerman  Esq 
Mr  Josiah  Snelling 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Hemp  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Messrs  John  Wells 

William  Cooper  Hunneman 
were  chosen  Assay  Masters  for  the  Year  ensiling 


210  City  Document  No.  115. 

Messrs  Jonathan  Gushing 
Joseph  Doble 
Thomas  Barbour 
David  Rich 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Dry  Fish  for  the  Year  ensuing 

Henry  Purkit  Esq 
Capt  Lemuel  Gardner 
Mr  Thomas  Barbour 
Mr  James  Eunson 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Hoops  and  Staves  for  Year  ensuing 

[318.]  The  Selectmen 

were  chosen  Surveyors  of  the  Highways  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Mess  Benjamin  White  Mess  Noah  Dogget 

John  Cogswell  Caleb  Coolidge 

Eleazer  Homer  John  Butterfleld 

Wilham  Green  Daniel  IngersoU 

Thomas  Christy  William  Clouston 

Edward  Alline  William  Ellison 

Nath^  Bradley  Jur  Joseph  Stodder 
Braddock  Loring 

were   chosen    Surveyors   of  Boards    &    Shingles    for   the    Year 

ensuing. 

Voted  that  Honb^  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 

Samuel  Brown  Esq 
be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  Audit  the  Accounts 
of  the  Town  Treasurer  and  also  those  of  the  Overseers  of  the 
Poor ;  and  the  Board  of  Health  ;  and  said  Committee  are  directed 
to  Report  the  Sum  necessary  to  be  raised  for  the  services  of  the 
present  Year  — 

Voted,  that  the  consideration  of  all  Money  Matters  be  referred 
to  May  Meeting  — 

Voted,  that  all  Matters,  unfinished  at  this  Meeting  be  referred 
to  May  Meeting. 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby  is  given  to 
Joseph  Russell  Esq  for  his  good  ser\dces  as  Moderator  of  this 
Meeting  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved 


[319.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Boston  of  21  Years  of  age  and  upwards,  qualified  as  the  Constitu- 
tion prescribes  &  Legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meeting 
Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  6*^  Day  of  April 
Anno  Domini  1807  9,  O'CIock  A  :  M  : 


Boston  Town  Records,  1807.  211 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Rev'^  Dr  Lothrop  — 

The  Town  Clerk  informed  the  Meeting,  that  all  the  Gentlemen 
chosen  Selectmen  for  the  present  Year  agreeable  to  a  late  Act 
of  the  General  Court  qualified  themselves  for  that  Office  by  taking 
the  following  Oath  Viz  ' '  That  they  would  faithfully  and  impar- 
tially discharge  the  duties  of  their  Office  respecting  all  Elections 
and  the  returns  thereof  "  which  Oath  was  administered  to  them  by 
John  Gardner  Esq  Justice  of  the  Peace 

Att  William  Cooper  Town  Clerk 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  Read 

Paragraph  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government  rela- 
tive to  the  choice  of  Governor  L*  Governor  &  Senators  —  Read 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Votes  shall  be 
received  but  such  as  are  unfolded,  and  that  they  propose  the 
Poll  should  be  closed  at  2  OClock  the  Bells  to  begin  tolling  at 
^  past  1  OClock  and  to  continue  for  |-  an  Hour  —  the  Names  to 
be  marked  off  before  given  in 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Goveknour  with  the  number  of  Votes  for 
each  Person 

Votes 

His  Excellency  Caleb  Strong  Esq      _     .     .     .     3149 

Honb^  James  Sullivan  Esq  -     -     -     -     2806 

Elbridge  Gerry  Esq  ------  5 

Harrison  G  Otis  Esq 

Theodore  Sedgwick 

Thomas  Lewis 

Charles  P  Sumner  Esq 

Beuj^  Austin  Esq 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Lieut  Governour  with  the  number  of  Votes 
for  each  Person  Viz 

Votes 

Honb^  Edward  H  Robins  Esq 3110 

Honb^  Levi  Lincoln  Esq 2108 

George  Cabot  Esq 2 

David  Cobb  Esq 2 

[330.]                    John  C  Jones  Esq 3 

John  Q  Adams  Esq 4 

William  Eustis  Esq 1 

Richard  Edwards 1 

Elbridge  Gerry  Esq 1 

Thomas  0  Selfridge 1 

Persons  Voted,  for  as  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  with 
the  number  of  Votes  for  each  Person  Viz 


212  City  Document  No.  115. 

Votes 
Honbl  Harrison  Gray  Otis  Esq  -  -  3063 
Honbl  Christopher  Gore  Esq  -  -  -  3146 
Honbl  William  Spooner  Esq  -  -  -  3132 
HonblJohn  PhilhpsEsq     -     -     -     -     3140 

Honbl  Peter  C  Brooks 3133 

Honbl  "William  Eustis  Esq  -     -     -     -     2112 

Honbl  David  Tilden  Esq    -     -     -     -     2110 

Samuel  Brown  Esq  -     -     -     -     2110 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq  -     -     -     -     2104 

Col°  Edward  Proctor    -     -     -     2103 

Thomas  Lewis 

Thomas  H  Perkins 

James  Sullivan  Esq  - 

Thomas  K  Jones 

James  Lloyd 

Benj^  Russell  -------- 

Dr  John  Warren  -     - 

Oliver  Wendell  Esq  ------ 

Capt  John  Prince 

Stephen  Higginson  Esq      -     _     -     - 

Jonathan  Mason  Esq 

Thomas  Welch 

John  Wells  Esq 

Augustus  Hunt 

Dr  David  Townsend 

Stephen  Gorham  Esq 

John  Tileston -     - 

Samuel  Clap 

James  Prince  Esq 

Benj^  Bussey -     ^ 

John  Winslow  Esq 

Henderson  Inches     ------ 

Stephen  Thayer 

Attested  Copies  or  returns  of  the  Persons  Voted  for  as 
GOVERNOR  l'^  GOVERNOR  &  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk, 
sealed  up  in  Town  Meeting  after  the  Votes  had  been  declared ;  to 
be  transmitted  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  as  prescribed 
by  law  and  directed  as  follows  Viz 

Eor  Honbl  Jonathan  L  Austin  Esqr 

Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

The  number  of  Votes  of  the  Town  of  Boston  for  Governour 
Lu*  Governour  &  Five  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  Certi- 
fied within  and  sealed  up  in  Town  Meeting  after  the  [331]  Votes 
had  been  declared. — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved 


Boston  Town  Records,  1807.  213 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
of  21  Years  of  age  and  upwards  qualified  as  the  Constitution 
prescribes  &  legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meeting  Assembled 
at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  13  Day  of  May  A  :D  :  1807— 
9  OClock  A  :M  : 

The  Meeting  opened  with  prayer  by  'Rey^  D^  Elliot 
Warrant  for  calling  this  Meeting  —  Read 

That  part  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government  which 
relates  to  the  choice  of  Representatives  —  Read 

The  Town  having  determined  by  a  Vote  to  choose  27  Persons 
to  represent  them  in  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  to  be 
holden  in  the  State  House  in  Boston  on  the  last  Wednesday  of 
May  Current,  agreeable  to  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Govern- 
ment for  Massachusetts ;  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  by  the 
Selectmen  to  bring  in  their  Votes  for  Representatives  not  exceed- 
ing 27  ;  and  then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Votes 
would  be  received  but  such  as  are  unfolded  and  untill  the  Name 
of  the  Person  entering  shall  be  marked  on  the  list  by  the  Gentle- 
men assisting  for  that  purpose  from  the  several  Wards,  and  that 
they  propose  the  Poll  should  be  closed  at  ^  past  1  OClock,  the 
Bells  to  begin  ringing  half  an  hour  before,  and  to  continue 
untill  the  close  of  the  Poll 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  27  Representatives  the  whole 
number  was  found  to  be  880  *  and  upon  sorting  them  it  appeared 
that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen  having  obtained  a 
majority  of  the  Votes,  Viz 

Votes 

William  Smith  Esq 877 

Jon^  Hunnewell  Esq     ---- 873 

William  Sullivan  Esq 879 

John  Wells  Esq 877 

Jon'^  Mason  Esq 876 

Thomas  H  Perkins  Esq 874 

William  Brown  Esq 876 

Samuel  Parkman  Esq 871 

[332.]  John  Winslow  Esq 871 

Edward  Tuckerman  Esq 872 

Deacon  Francis  Wright     -     -     -     --     -     --  873 

Redford  Webster  Esq 875 

Thomas  Perkins  Esq 873 

Daniel  Sargent  Esq      --- 874 

William  Phillips  Esq     --- 875 

*Ttie  whole  number  of  votes,  and  the  number  lor  each  person  voted  for,  does  not 
appear  on  the  Town  Records,  but  is  taken  from  the  original  memorandum  by  the 
Town  Clerk. 


214  City  Document  No.  115. 

Stephen  Codman  Esq 874 

Simon  Elliot  Esq 872 

Benjamin  Russell  Esq -._  874 

Mr  Thomaa  W  Sumner     --------  871 

John  Callender  Esq 873 

Dr  Thomas  Danforth 877 

John  T  Apthorp  Esq 872 

Charles  Davis  Esq 872 

Mr  Benjamin  Goddard 875 

Mr  Thomas  Kilby  Jones 872 

Benjamin  Whitman  Esq ---  864 

Mr  James  Lloyd  Ju''     - 876 

The  choice  of  Representatives  being  over  and  declared  by  the 
Selectmen 

The  Meetina;  was  Dissolved 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the  14*^ 
Day  of  May  Anno  Domini  1807  —  10-OClock  A  :M  :  — 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting Read 

Joseph  Russell  Esq 
was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote 

The  Inhabitants,  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  6  Trustees  for  Towns  Lands  on  the  Neck,  in  addition 
to  the  Selectmen,  who  conjunctly  are  to  manage  said  Lands,  in 
such  manner  as  shall  appear  to  them  best  for  the  Interest  of  the 
Town  —  the  Votes  being  brought  in  and  sorted  it  appeared  that 

Honbl  Thomas  Dawes  Esq 
[333.]         General  John  Winslow 

Honbl  William  Brown  Esq 

Joshua  Davis  Jur  Esq 
Honbl  William  Phillips 

Edward  Tuckerman  Esq 
were  chosen. 

Mr  John  D  Howard  &  John  T  Apthorp  Esq  the  former  having 
resigned  &  the  latter  having  declined  serving  as  Fire  Wards 

Mr  Henry  Fowle 

Mr  Samuel  Sweet 
were  chosen  in  their  room. 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to 
Mr  John  D  Howard,  for  his  good  services  as  Fire  Ward  several 
Years  past 


Boston  Town  Records,  1807.  215 

Mess  Benjamin  Rice 
Allen  Bowker 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Boards  &  Shingles  in  addition  to  the 
16  before  chosen  —  on  application  therefore,  by  a  number  of  In- 
habitants — 

Mr  John  Deluce 
was  chosen  into  the  Office  of  Hogreeve  &  Hayward  for  South 
Boston 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz  ' '  To  consider  and  act  upon  the 
petition  of  James  Ivers  and  others  whether  the  Town  will  consent 
to  waive  the  condition  on  which  the  Grant  of  the  Mill  Pond  was 
made,  and  to  permit  the  same  to  be  filled  up  by  the  Proprietors  ; 
or  to  any  other  act  &  thing  respecting  the  Premises,  which  may 
cause  or  suffer  to  be  effected  the  purposes  therein  contemplated ' ' 
—  was  read,  After  long  debate  thereon  —  It  was  moved  and 
Voted  that  the  consideration  of  this  Article  with  the  Petition  — 
be  referred  to  a  Committee  of  five  Persons  to  be  chosen  by  nomi- 
nation being  called  for  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen  Viz 

Joseph  Russell 

Samuel  Brown 

Judge  Davis 
[334.]  James  Prince 

John  Wells  —  Esquires 
and  said  Committee  are  requested  to  make  Report  thereon  at  the 
Adjournment  of  this  Meeting 

It  was  then  moved  &  Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to 
Monday  the  25  Day  of  May  Inst  10  0-Clock  A:  M: 

Monday  May  25*'^  10  0-Clock  A:  M:  met  according  to  ad- 
journment. 

The  Moderator  in  the  Chair 

The  Selectmen  to  whom  was  committed  the  consideration  of 
the  Claim  of  the  Heirs  of  Governour  Hancock  to  Land  on  Beacon 
Hill  —  ask  leave  to  Report 

That  they  have  examined  the  Town  Records  relative  to  this 
subject,  have  conferred  with  the  Claimants  and  examined  their 
Deeds,  and  have  advised  with  the  most  eminent  counsel  —  and 
after  all  the  investigation  in  their  power  they  find  that  the  Town 
has  been  possessed  of  a  certain  portion  of  the  Hill  from  the 
earliest  period  of  its  settlement  —  that  the  Deeds  to  Thomas  Han- 
cock do  not  comprise  the  other  part  of  the  Hill  now  Claimed  by 
the  Applicants  but  that  the  Town  has  been  long  in  the  use  and 
uninterrupted  possession  of  it 

The  Selectmen  therefore  propose,  that  the  Town  should  em- 
power Agents  to  maintain  and  defend  their  right  to  said  Land 


216  City  Document  No.  115. 

and  to  prosecute  all  encroachments  or  trespasses  that  may  be 
made  on  the  same  — 

■  The  aforegoing  Eeport  having  been  read  it  was  accepted  by 
the  Town  and  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  were  appointed  Agents 
on  the  business  and  are  fully  empowered  to  maintain  and  defend 
the  Towns  right  in  said  Land — 

The  Committee  of  Fire  Wards,  on  the  Petition  of  Amasa 
Stutson  &  Seth  Thayer,  Reported,  that  it  was  their  unanimous 
opinion  that  the  prayer  of  the  petition  should  not  be  granted  — 
and  the  question  being  put  for  accepting  this  report  —  it  was 
accepted  by  the  Town  accordingly  — 

The  Votes,  being  brought  in  for  a  School  [325]  Committee 
Member  in  the  room  of  CoP  Thomas  Dawes  who  had  resigned  — 
it  appeared  that 

John  Davis  Esq 
was  chosen. 

Votes  being  brought  in  for  one  Trustee  of  the  Towns  Lands  on 
the  Neck  —  in  the  room  of  CoP  Dawes  who  had  resigned  it 
appeared  that 

William  Hammet  Esq 
was  chosen 

On  Motion  Voted  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be 
and  hereby  are  given  to  the  Hon^^  Thomas  Dawes  Esq  for  his 
good  and  faithfull  services  in  the  several  Offices  he  has  sustained 
for  a  long  course  of  Years  past  — 

The  Committee  on  Petition  relative  to  filling  up  the  Mill  Pond 
—  Reported,  and  the  same  having  been  read  it  was  moved  and 
Voted,  that  this  Report  be  referred  to  another  Meeting  for  consid- 
eration, and  that  the  same  be  published  in  all  the  Papers  — 

Moved  &  Voted,  that  the  foregoing  Vote  be  so  far  altered,  as 
that  the  said  Report  be  printed  in  Hand  Bills  and  distributed 
among  the  Inhabitants  for  a  more  full  inspection,  before  the 
Adjournment  of  this  Meeting 

The  Committee  on  Town  Treasurers  Accompts  and  other 
Money  Matters  —  Reported  —  and  thereupon  it  was  moved  & 
voted,  that  said  Report  be  printed  in  hand  bills  and  distributed 
amongst  the  Inhabitants  for  their  inspection 

The  application  of  the  Judge  of  the  Municipal  Court  for 
further  Compensation  —  was  read  —  and  on  motion  Voted  that 

James  Prince  Esq 

John  Wells  Esq 

Samuel  Brown  Esq 
be  a  Committee  to  whom  this  Matter  is  referred  for  consideration 
and  to  Report  at  the  Adjournment 

Adjourned  to  Monday  8'*^  of  June  next  10  OClock  A  :M  : 


Boston  Toavn  Records,  1807.  217 

[326.]  Monday  the  8^^  of  June  1807  10  0-Clock  A  :M  : 
Met  according  to  Adjournment 

An  Application  of  a  number  of  Inhabitants  for  another  Hay- 
ward  to  be  appointed  for  the  Southern  part  of  the  Town  more 
especially  the  Neck 

Joseph  Bacon 
was  chosen  a  Hay  ward  for  the  present  Year 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the  appli- 
cation of  the  Honbl  Thomas  Dawes  Jun''  Judge  of  the  Municipal 
Court  for  the  Town  of  Boston  for  an  augmentation  of  his 
Salary  —  Report  that  in  their  opinion  the  Salary  of  Judge 
Dawes  should  be  augmented  to  Seven  Hundred  &  fifty  Dollars 
per  Annum 

James  Prince  per  order 

The  aforegoing  Eeport  having  been  read  and  considered  the 
Question  was  put,  whether  this  Report  be  accepted  by  the 
Town  —  Passed  in  the  Affirmative  — 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  relative  to  filling  up  the  Mill 
Pond,  which  had  been  printed  in  hand  bills  for  the  inspection 
of  the  Inhabitants  —  was  read  several  times  and  after  long 
debate  —  the  Question  was  put  —  Whether  this  Report  shall  be 
accepted  —  which  passed  in  the  Negative  — 

Whereupon  it  was  moved  &  Voted,  That  a  Committee  of  seven 
be  appointed  as  Commissioners  on  the  part  of  the  Town  with  full 
powers  to  meet  such  person  or  persons  as  may  be  appointed  in 
behalf  of  the  Mill  Proprietors  with  equal  powers,  and  to  treat 
and  negotiate  with  them  for  a  relinquishment  of  all  the  rights  and 
claims  of  the  Town  to  the  Mill  Pond  and  Lands  under  the  same 
or  parts  thereof  and  to  conclude  &  bargain  for  the  same  on  such 
terms  and  conditions  as  they  may  Judge  most  for  the  interest  of 
the  Town,  and  the  doings  of  said  Commi'^^*'  when  duly  ratified  & 
confirmed  by  the  Town  &  Mill  Proprietors  shall  be  binding  for- 
ever upon  all  parties.  —  also 

Voted,  the  Selectmen  nominate  and  appoint  the  Commissioners 
on  the  part  of  the  Town 

[32*7.]  Adjourned  to  Monday  the  15"^  of  June  Ins  — 
10  OClock  A  :M  : 

Monday  the  15*^  June  10  o-Clock  A  :M  :  Met  according  to 
adjournment 

The  Town  having  at  their  late  Meeting  8*^  Inst  impowered  the 
Selectmen  to  nominate  &  appoint  seven  Commissioners  to  treat 
and  negotiate  with  the  Mill  Corporation  as  fully  expressed  in  the 


218  City  Document  No.  115. 

Towns  Vote  of  that  date  —  The  Selectmen  have  accordingly  pro- 
ceeded to  execute  the  trust   reposed  in  them  ;   and  after  much 
deliberation   have    unanimously    made   choice    of    the    following 
named  Gentlemen  as  Commissioners   for  the  purpose  aforesaid 
Honb^  John  Q  Adams  Esq 
Honb^  William  Brown  Esq 
Honb^  John  Davis  Esq 

William  Parsons  Esq 
John  Joy  Esq 
Dr  Redford  Webster 
Capt  Tristram  Barnard 
and '  they  have  signified  their  willingness  to  accept  the  trust  and 
have  entered  upon  the  duties  thereof  — 

The  Subscribers,  a  Committee  chosen  by  the  Town  March  9**^ 
1807,  to  Audit  the  Accounts  of  the  Town  Treasurer,  Overseers  of 
the  Poor  and  the  Board  of  Health  ;  and  to  report  the  sum  necessary 
to  be  raised  for  the  present  Year  having  attended  that  service 
ask  leave  to  Report  — 

They  have  examined  the  Accompts  of  the  several  Departments, 
find  them  right  cast  and  well  vouched.  The  Treasurers  Accounts 
as  follows  by  his  Trial  Ballance  Viz 

1807.  $             C 

April  30  To  Towns  Powder 1041.95 

To  Notes  Receivable  for  Notes  due)  „,..  ^^ 

the   Town                                                ^  ^^^-^^ 
To  Ballance  due  the  Town  on 

the  several  Taxes 

Viz  Tax    -     -     -     -     1803  -     -     -     -  1032.81 

"      '^       .     -     -     -     1801  -     -     -     -  6857.57 

"      "       ...     -     1805  -     .     -     -  9139.49 

"     "       ....     1806  -     -     -     .  45927.89 

To  Cash  on  hand 641.98 


$65395.82 


April  30 

By  Notes  payab^  for  sundry 

Articles  for  Money  borrowed  D.         C 

for  Use  of  the  Town 24308.48 

By  Ballance  due  the 

State  Tax     -     1806 18017.33 

Ditto  on  CO  Tax -     -  2189.27 

Due  on  Selectmens  drafts      -     .     .     -  7253.58 

Overseers-     -     -     Do       .     -     -     .  2917.15 

Board  of  Health 405.88 

Due  W™  Tukesbury     - 74.15 

Town  Treasury 9665.54 

Due  Trustees  Neck  land 562.44 

65395.82 


Boston  Town  Kecoeds,  1807.  219 

[338.]  The  Committee  Report  an  Estimate  for  present  Year 
as  follows 

School  Master  &  Ushers $13,300 

Repairs  of  Schools  Fire  Wood  (fe*^   -     -  1,100 

Town  Watch 6,500 

Town  Treasurer  &  Collector  -     -     -     -  1,500 

3  Assessors  at  816  Dollars  each      -     -  2,448 

Police  Officers    ----.--.  1000 

Constables  Services 300 

Engine  Repairs  &  Premiums  -     -     -     -  400 

Lamps  Oil  &  lighting  - 5000  — 

Town  Clerk  ---------  lOOO  — 

Messenger  &  Doorkeeper  to  Selectmen  500  — 

Judge  of  Municipal  Court  &  Advocate  800  — 

Printing  &  Stationery       -----  400  — 

Bells  &  Clocks 400  — 

Regulating  &  Paving  Streets      -     -     -  10000  — 

Overseers  of  the  Poor       .     -     -     -     _  18000  — - 

Board  of  Health 5000  — 

To  complete  the  payment  for                )  onnno 

repairs  of  Faneuil  Hall     -     -     -     -    j 

Incidental  Charges 2132  — 

$90,000  — 

In  the  following  Accounts  the  Town  will  find  all  the  particular 
expences  Viz 

N'     1  —  Mr  Smith's  general  Account 

2  —  His  Trial  ballance 

3  —  Selectmens  Drafts  and  monthly  payments 

4  —  Overseers  Drafts     -     .     -     -     ditto 

5  —  County  of  Suffolk  -     -     -     -        " 

6  —  Board  of  Health     -     -     -     -        " 

7  —  Outstanding  Debts       -     -     -        " 

8  —  Treasurers  Accounts  of  Faneuil  Hall 

9 — Accounts  of  Rents  Annually  received  Amt^  to  $9142 
This  sum  will  be  increased  this  Year  nearly  $2000 
when  all  the  Arangement  of  the  Market  is  com- 
pleted 

The  Committee  have  also  examined  the  Accounts  of  the  Agents 
for  enlarging  Faneuil  Hall  and  find  them  well  vouched ;  the 
whole  Amount  of  expences  of  the  enlargement  by  particular  Acct 
herewith  handed  in  is  $5069 2  j^g-  which  Expences  have  been  in 
part  paid  by  proceeds  of  Land  on   Fort  Hill   16185  and  Taxes 

last  Year  10,000 26,185  — 

[339.]      Selectmen  have  been  empowered  to  sell  ) 

Towns  land  near  S°  Bridge  for  which  they  have  >-  11,000 

been  offered ) 

Ballance  provided  for  in  the  Estimate  for  this  Year         19,507.67 

$56,692.67 


220  City  Document  No.  115. 

From  the  above  Statement  your  Committee  are  of  opinion 
that  the  Town  raise  Ninety  Thousand  Dollars  to  defray  the  Ex- 
pences  of  the  Town  for  the  present  Year,  all  which  they  submit — 
Your  Committee  have  also  heard  the  Agents  on  their  claims  for 
compensation  for  attending  the  enlargement  of  Faneuil  Hall,  and 
are  of  opinion  that  they  ought  to  have  allowed  them  1  pet  on 
the  Amount  which  will  be  $566.92  — 


Joseph  Russell  )  ^         .„„ 

bamuel  Brown  J 


The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  and  considered  —  the 
Question  was  put  "Whether  the  same  shall  be  accepted  — 
Passed  in  the  Affirmative  — 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Ninety  Thousand  Dollars  be  raised  by 
a  Tax  to  be  assessed  on  the  Polls  and  Estates  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  this  Town  to  defray  the  Expences  of  the  Town  the  Current 
Year  — 

Voted  that  the  Sum  of  Seven  hundred  &  fifty  Dollars  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  the  Honb^  Thomas  Dawes  Jur  Esq  for  his 
Salary  as  Judge  of  the  Municipal  Court  — 

Voted,  that  the  Honb^  William  Smith  Esq  be  allowed  and  paid 
as  Town  Treasurer  &  Collector  of  Taxes  for  the  present  Year  the 
sum  of  $1500  —  he  to  pay  his  Clerk,  Assistant  &  Office  hire,  and 
all  expences  of  Office. 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  1000  Dollars  be  allowed  and  paid  unto 
William  Cooper  for  his  Salary  as  Town  Clerk  the  year  ensuing- 
Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  816  Dollars  be  allowed   and  paid   to 
each  of  the  three  Assessors,  for  their  services  in  that  Office  the 
Year  ensuing 

Moved  &  Voted,  that  when  this  Meeting  be  adjourned  it  shall 
be  to  Wednesday  the  8**^  Day  of  July  10  OClock  A  :  M  :  and  the 
Inhabitants  be  informed  thereof  by  Notification  — 

And  the  Meeting  was  accordingly  Adjourned 

[330.]     Town    Met  according    to   Adjournment   July  8    10 
OClock  A  :  M  : 

The  Committee  relative  to  Mill  Pond  having  notified  the  Select- 
men that  they  should  not  be  ready  to  Report  at  this  Adjournment, 
and  they  having  informed  the  Inhabitants  thereof  in  the  public 
Prints 

It  was  Moved  &  Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  further  Adjourned 
to  Monday  the    20*^  July  Inst*  10    OClock  A  :  M  :   and  that  the 


Boston  Town  Records,  1807.  221 

Selectmen    notify    the    Town    thereof   by    Handbills    dispersed 
amongst  the  Inhabitants 

Monday  July  20*^  10  OCloek  A:M:  Met  according  to 
adjournment  and  the  Committee  on  Mill  Pond  not  being  ready  to 
Report  the  Meeting  was  further  adjourned  to  Meet  on  Monday 
the  3*1  August  10  OClock  A  :  M  : 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Saturday  the  4*"^^  Day 
of  July  A  :  D  :  1807  9  O'Clock  A  :  M  : 

"Warrant  for  calling  Meeting Read 

William  Cooper 
was  chosen  Moderator 

The  Committee  appointed  last  Year  to  make  choice  of  a  Gen- 
tleman to  deliver  an  oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  American 
Independence 

Reported  that  ■  they  had  made  choice  of  Peter  Thatcher  Esq 
who  had  accepted  of  the  Appointment 

On  Motion  adjourned  to  Old  South  Church  when 

AN    ORATION 

to  commemorate   the   Independence   of   the   United    States  was 
delivered  by  Peter  Thatcher  Esq  at  the  Old  South  Church  — 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  wait 
on  Peter  Thatcher  Esq,  and  in  the  Name  of  the  Town  to  thank 
him  for  the  elegant  &  spirited  Oration  this  Day  delivered  by  him 
at  the  request  of  the  Town  upon  the  [331]  Anniversary  of  the 
Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America  in  which  accord- 
ing to  the  Institution  of  the  Town,  he  considered  the  manners 
feelings  &  principles  which  led  to  that  great  IsTational  Event 
and  to  Request  of  him  a  Copy  thereof  for  the  Press 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen  &  Selectmen  be  and 
hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  apply  to  some  one  learned 
&  able  Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  4''^  of  July  A  :D  : 
1808  —  that  Day  being  the  Anniversary  of  the  Independence  of 
the  United  States  of  America  wherein  the  Orator  is  to  consider 
the  feelings  manners  &  principles  which  led  to  this  Great 
National  Event ;  as  well  as  the  important  &  happy  effects, 
whether  General  or  Domestic  which  have  already  or  will  forevcT 
flow  from  that  auspicious  Epoch 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


222  City  Document  No.  115. 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the  16'^ 
July  A  :D  :  1807.    10  OClock  A  :M  : 

Warrant  for  calling  Meeting Read. 

Honb^  John  C  Jones  Esq 
chosen  Moderator  by  a  Hand  Vote 

Communication  from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of  the 
City  of  Norfolk  Virginia  laid  before  the  Town  by  the  Selectmen 
and  after  reading  the  same  it  was  moved  &  Voted,  that 

Honb^  John  Q  Adams  Esq 

Honb^  Harrison  C  Otis  Esq 

Honb^  William  Eustis  Esq 
[333.]  HonV  Christopher  Gore  Esq 

Dr  Charles  Jarvis  Esq 

Honb^  John  C  Jones  Esq 

Honb^  T  H  Perkins  Esq 
be  a  Committee  to  consider  the  Communication  and  to  Report  as 
soon  as  may  be  to  the  Inhabitants  who  will  remain  in  Meeting  to 
receive  their  Report 

The  Town  being  informed  that  two  Gentlemen  of  the   Comm®® 
were  not  in  Meeting  it  was  moved  &  Voted  that  the 
HonV  Jon^  Mason  Esq 
Dr  John  Warren  Esq 
be  added  to  the  Committee. 

In  about  an  hour  the  Committee  entered  the  Hall  and  made  the 
following  Report,  by  their  Chairman  M""  Adams  —  Viz  — 

Whereas  by  the  Communication  from  Norfolk,  Portsmouth  & 
their  vicinities,  and  the  Proclamation  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States,  it  appears  that  the  sovereignty  of  our  Country  has 
been  insulted,  and  the  lives  of  our  Citizens  sacrificed  by  the 
unjustifiable  conduct  of  a  British  Armed  Ship  — 

1^*  Resolved^  That  we  consider  the  unprovoked  attack  on  the 
United  States  Armed  Ship  the  Chesapeake  by  the  British  Ship  of 
War,  the  Leopard,  a  wanton  outrage  upon  the  lives  of  our  Fellow 
Citizens,  a  direct  violation  of  our  National  honour  and  an 
infringement  of  our  National  Rights  and  Sovereignty  — 

2.  Resolved^  That  we  most  sincerely  approve  the  proclamation 
and  the  firm  &  dispassionate  course  of  jjolicy,  pursued  by  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  and  we  will  cordially  unite  with 
our  Fellow  Citizens  in  affording  effectual  support  to  such  measures 
as  our  Government  may  further  adopt  in  the  present  crisis  of  our 
affairs  — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1807.  223 

3.  Resolved^  That  we  remember  with  pride  &  pleasure  the 
patriotic  &  spirited  conduct  of  the  Citizens  of  Norfolk,  Ports- 
mouth, and  their  Vicinities,  before  the  orders  of  the  Government 
were  known  upon  this  momentous  occasion,  and  they  are  entitled 
to  the  thanks  and  approbation  of  their  Fellow  Citizens  throughout 
the  Union  — 

[333.]  4*^  Resolved^  That  the  Selectmen  be  requested  to 
return  a  suitable  answer  to  the  respectfull  comunication  from  our 
Fellow  Citizens  of  Norfolk  with  the  proceedings  of  this  Meeting. 

The  Town  were  informed  that  the  Committee  were  unanimous 
in  their  Report  —  And  the  Question  being  put  —  Whether  this 
Report  shall  be  accepted  —  Passed  in  the  affirmative  unanimously, 
and  with  great  applause 

The  Moderator  had  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  for  his  good 
services  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved 


Monday  the  3"^  Day  of  August  10  OClock  A.M.  Met  according 
to  Adjournment  of  May  Meeting 

The  Committee  relative  to  the  Mill  Pond,  Reported,  and  laid 
before  the  Town  the  Agreement  or  contract  made  with  the  Mill 
Proprietors  —  the  Report  having  been  several  times  read  —  A 
motion  was  made  that  the  same  be  referred  to  an  Adjournment 
of  this  Meeting  «fe  that  the  Report  &  Contract  be  printed  &  dis- 
tributed amongst  the  Inhabitants  and  the  question  being  put  it 
passed  in  the  negative  —  It  was  then  moved  that  the  Report  of 
the  Committee  be  now  put  for  the  acceptance  of  the  Town  &  the 
motion  being  accordingly  put  it  passed  in  the  Affirmative  by  a 
vast  majority  — 

The  Report  is  as  follows  — 

Boston  July  24  1807 
The  Commissioners  appointed  by  your  respectable  Board  in 
conformity  to  the  object  of  their  appointment  and  the  powers 
with  which  they  were  invested  have  concluded  a  Contract  with 
the  Proprietors  of  the  Boston  Mill  Corporation^  subject  to  the 
ratification  of  the  Town  of  Boston. 

In  stipulating  for  a  relinquishment  of  the  rights  and  [334] 
claims  of  the  Town  to  the  Mill  Pond  :  the  following  conditions 
are  expressly  secured  Viz 

That  all  claims  &  controversies  relative  to  Abutters  on  the 
Pond  be  settled  by  Arbitration  or  rule  of  Court  if  they  cannot  be 
otherwise  satisfactorily  adjusted  — 


224  City  Document  No.  115. 

That  the  Mill  Creek  be  continued  by  the  Proprietors  of  its 
present  width  to  Charles  River  — 

That  the  western  Flood  Gates,  be  restored  and  kept  open  so 
long  as  the  Selectmen  shall  require  — 

That  suitable  accommodation  be  provided  for  the  Baptist 
Churches  pursuant  to  existing  agreements  between  those  Churches 
&  the  Proprietors 

That  such  common  Sewers  shall  be  carried  through  the  Pond  as 
the  Selectmen  shall  direct 

That  the  filling  up  the  Pond  shall  be  with  such  materials  as  the 
Selectmen  shall  approve 

That  Streets  shall  be  laid  out  &  completed  fit  for  paving 
according  to  a  plan  delineated  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Selectmen, 
under  certain  specified  restrictions  — 

That  all  necessary  Bridges  over  any  Canals  that  may  be  reserved 
shall  be  made  at  the  expence  of  the  Proprietors 

That  a  square  of  Land  of  One  Acre  filled  up  at  or  near  the 
center  of  the  Pond,  be  reserved  for  the  use  of  the  Town  to  be 
disposed  of  at  their  discretion  — 

That  the  whole  Pond  &  Flatts  appurtenant  shall  be  filled  up  at 
the  expence  of  the  Proprietors  within  Twenty  Years 

That  0716  eight  part  of  the  whole  Premises  filled  np  shall  be 
conveyed  to  the  Town  in  fee  simple  free  of  all  expences  to  the 
Town  — 

That  one  half  of  such  part  of  the  Premises  as  shall  not  within 
twenty  Years  be  filled  up  or  boxed  so  as  to  exclude  the  water  in 
manner  equivalent  to  filling  up  —  shall  be  and  remain  the  sole 
property  of  the  Town ;  and  finally,  That  the  Town  shall  be 
indemnified  from  all  expence,  loss  or  damage  from  any  of  the 
operations  of  the  Proprietors  in  the  proposed  improvements.  — 

[335.]  Those  stipulations  which  relate  to  the  pubhc  ac- 
commodation were  readily  adjusted,  It  has  been  more  dificult  to 
determine  the  proportion  of  the  property  to  which  the  Town 
should  become  entitled  upon  the  release  of  the  present  conditions, 
and  to  regulate  the  manner  of  connection  with  the  Proprietors  — 

Various  views  of  the  subject  were  presented  to  the  consider- 
ation of  the  Commissioners,  arising  from  mutual  estimate  pro- 
portions.    The  terms  on  which  the  actual  adjustment  is  made, 


Boston  Town  Records,  1807.  225 

while  they  secure  the  execution  of  the  contemplated  improve- 
ments, in  suitable  manner  &  within  a  reasonable  period  of  time 
will  give  certain  pecuniary  benefit  to  the  Town,  without  risque  or 
expence.  This  definite  emolument  with  other  collateral  benefits, 
secured  by  the  contract,  the  Commissioners  conceive  to  be  a  fair 
equivalent  for  the  Town's  interest  in  the  property,  estimating  that 
interest  to  be  the  one  half  of  the  present  value  of  the  premises. — 
A  greater  nominal  proportion  might  indeed  have  been  obtained 
by  becoming  Joint  Sharers  in  the  Corporation  but  in  the  estima- 
tion of  the  Commissioners  the  terms  on  which  they  have  decided 
present  a  more  eligible  basis,  and  the  eventual  profit  will  in  their 
apprehension  be  equal  if  not  superior  to  the  advantages  which 
might  probably  be  derived  from  any  connection  with  the  concern 
by  shares^  that  has  been  proposed  — 

The  Contract  has  been  carefully  framed  and  it  is  presumed 
embraces  every  requisite  for  a  definitive  compromise  —  and  for 
the  prevention  of  future  controversy  or  misunderstanding  between 
the  Parties  —  In  this  persuasion  and  with  sincere  wishes  for  a 
prosperous  &  satisfactory  result  of  this  intended  enterprise  we 
submit  the  Instrument  that  has  been  executed  to  the  decision  of 
our  Constituents.  — 

We  have  the  honour  to  be  Grcntlemen  with  great  respect — 
Your  Obed*  Servants 
by  the  Order  of  the  \  John  Davis  Chairman 

Commissioners      j 

The  Selectmen  of  Boston 

[336.]  On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby 
are  authorised  and  fully  empowered  to  carry  the  conditions  of  the 
aforementioned  Agreement  &  Contract  which  has  been  ratified  by 
the  Town,  into  full  effect 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Joseph  Eussell 
Esq  for  the  dispatch  given  the  business  of  the  May  Meeting 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned,  in  public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  9*^^  Day  of 
December  A  :D  :  1807  — 10  OClock  A  :M  : 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting Read. 

Honbl  Joseph  Russell  Esq 
chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote  — 


226  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  —  viz  —  ' '  Upon  the  Application  of 
a  number  of  the  Inhabitants  to  consider  the  petition  &  representa- 
tion of  Perkins  Nichols  to  the  Town  praying  for  consideration  & 
indemnity  for  his  losses  on  Building  a  Street  across  the  Mill 
Pond" — was  read  and  debated  —  whereupon  it  was  moved  — 
That  the'said  Petitioner  have  leave  to  withdraw  his  petition  &  rep- 
resentation—  and  the  Question  being  accordingly  put  —  Passed 
by  a  great  majority  in  the  Affirmative 

On  Motion  Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the 
Honbl  Joseph  Russell  Esq  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator.  — 

Then  the  Meetino-  was  dissolved 


1808. 

[337.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned,  in 
public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall,  on  Monday 
the  14:^^  day  of  March  Anno  Domini  1808.     10.  O'Clock  A.M. 

Prayer  was  made  by  Rev.  Dr.  Eckley. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read. 

Sundry  Laws  or  extracts  of  Laws  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting  — 
were  according  —  read. 

Hon.   Joseph   Russell   Esq.  was    chosen    Moderator   of    this 

Meeting. 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  &  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  a  Town  Clerk,  &  the  same  being  brought  in  &  counted, 
it  appeared  that  William  Cooper  was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the 
year  ensuing  &  took  the  oath  of  Office  which  was  administered  to 
him  by  Mr.  Justice  Bulfinch. 

A  motion  was  made,  but  did  not  obtain  That  a  Conmaittee  be 
chosen  to  assist  the  Selectmen  in  counting  their  Votes.  — 

Voted  that  the  Poll  for  choice  of  Selectmen  be  closed  at  half 
past  12  ''Clock.  — 

The  Inhabitants  were  desired  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  9  Selectmen,  &  the  same  have  having  been  brought  in 
&  counted;  [338]  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen 
were  chosen  —  viz. 

Charles  Bulfinch  Esq.  John  May  Esq 

David  Tilden  Esq  Francis  Wright  Esq. 


Boston  Town  Recoeds,  1808.  227 

William  Porter  Esq.  Dea  Joseph  Kettle 

Mr.  Eben''.  Oliver  Jonathan  Chapman  Esq. 

Jon^  Hunnewell  Esq  (all  Sworn) 

The  Votes  for  a  Town  Treasurer  &  Collector  of  Taxes  for  the 
present  year,  being  brought  in  &  sorted,  it  appeared  that  — 
William  Smith  Esq  —  was  chosen. 

Edward  Proctor  Esq.  Mr  Samuel  Snelling 

Henry  Hill  Esq.  Mr.  Benj*.  Goddard 

William  Smith  Esq.  Sam^  Clap  Esq 

William  Philhps  Esq.  Mr  Ozias  Goodwin 

Redford  Webster  Esq.  Mr.  William  Mackay 

Thomas  Perkins  Esq.  Joseph  Coolidge  Jun"".  Esq. 
were  Chosen  overseers  of  the  Poor  for  the  year  ensuing. 

[339.]   Thomas  Melville  Esq.  Dan^  Messinger  Esq. 

Henry  Jackson  Esq.  Mr  Tho®  Curtis 

Joseph  May  Esq,  Josh^  Davis  Jun''  Esq 

Andrew  Cunningham  Esq  Benjamin  Smith 

Joseph  Head  Esq.  Benjamin  Coates 

Thomas  H  Perkins  Esq  W™  Sullivan 

Gen.  John  Winslow  Mr  Ignatius  Sargent 

Stephen  Codman  Esq.  Mr.  Sam^  Sweet 

John  Bray  Esq.  Bryant  P.  Tilden  Esq. 

Mr  Thomas  Dennie  Mr  Edw*^  Cruft 

Gen.  Simon  Elliot  Cap*  Barker  Baker 

Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esq  Ja^  Phillips  Esq. 

were  chosen  Fire  Wards  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Ozias  Goodwin  &  Henry  Fowle  had  a  Vote  of  thanks 
for  their  good  services  as  Fire  Wards  the  past  year. 

Amasa  Davis  Esq  Samuel  Bradford  Esq.  having  also  declined 
serving  as  Fire-Wards,  had  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  for  their 
good  &  long  services  in  that  Office.  — 

Adjourned  to  3  °Ck  P.M. 

3  O'clock  P.M.  Town  met. 

Voted,  that  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  12  Persons  shall  now 
be  chosen  a  School  Committee  &  the  Votes  being  brought  in  & 
sorted  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  Chosen  — 
viz. 

Rev.  Joseph  Eckley  D.D. 

Dr.  Thomas  Welch 

Dr.  Aaron  Dexter 

Arnold  Welles  Esq. 

Rev.  J.  T.  Kirkland 

William  Smith  Esq 


228  City  Document  No.  115. 

David  Greene  Esq. 
[340.]  Hon  John  Phillips  Esq 

John  Heard  Esq 
John  Davis  Esq. 
Rev.  W™  Emmerson 
Charles  Davis  Esq. 

Voted  that  the  above  named  Gentlemen  who  conjunctly  with 
the  Selectmen  are  termed  the  School  Committee  be  and  hereby 
are  directed  to  carry  the  oieio  System  of  Education  which  has 
been  adopted  by  the  Town  into  operation,  and  said  Committee 
are  also  authorized  &  empowered  conjunctly  to  manage  &  regu- 
late the  officers  &  the  Government  of  the  Schools,  &  in  future  to 
execute  all  the  power,  relative  to  the  Schools  and  School  Masters 
which  the  Selectmen  or  such  Committees  were  authorized  by  the 
laws  of  the  Commonwealth  or  the  Votes  of  the  Town  to  exercise  — 
any  former  Votes  of  the  Town  notwithstanding.  — 

Votes  for  a  Treasurer  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  brought  in  & 
counted  by  the  Moderator  &  Town  Clerk  ;  when  it  appeared  that 
the  whole  number  was  293,  and  thai  they  were  all  for  Ebenezer 
Seaver  Esq.  a  discreet  suitable  Person,  and  a  Freeholder  and 
Resident  in  said  County  —  and  delivered  return  to  Eben^  Seaver 
for  Court  of  Sessions.  — 

Messrs.  Benj'^.  White,  John  Cogswell,  Will™.  Clouston, 
William  Ellison,  John  Butterfield,  Naty.  Bradlee  Jr,  Noah 
Dogget,  Caleb  Coolidge,  Braddock  Loring,  Edw*^.  Alline,  Thomas 
Christy,  William  Green,  Eleazer  Homer,  Joseph  Stodder,  Allen 
Bowker,  Benjamin  Rice,  Will™  Ellison  Ju'^.  were  chosen  Sur- 
veyors of  boards  &  Shingles  for  the  year  ensuing. 

[341.]  Messrs.  Joseph  Doble,  Jonathan  Cushing  Thomas 
Barbour,  James  Ellison,  Nath^  How,  John  Smith,  Daniel  Cutter, 
Gershom  Spear,  Charles  Pook,  Ziba  Thayer,  Hez^\  Hudson  & 
Benj'^.  Clark  were  chosen  Cullers  of  dry  Fish  for  the  Year 
ensuing.  — 

Messrs  Henry  Purkett,  Lemuel  Gardner,  Thomas  Barbour  & 
James  Eunson  —  were  chosen  Cullers  of  hoops  &  Staves  for  the 
year  ensuing. — 

Messrs.  Benj^.  White,  Moses  Ayres  &  William  Ellison,  were 
chosen  Fence  Viewers  for  the  year  ensuing.  — 

Messrs.  Barney  Connor  Jas.  Cabbot,  Joseph  Bacon,  John 
Deluce,  Rufus  Harrington,  were  chosen  Hogreeves  for  the  year 
ensuing.  — 

Messrs.  Barney  Connor  Jas.  Cabbot,  Joseph  Bacon,  John 
Deluce,  Rufus  Harrington,  were  chosen  Haywards  for  the  Year 
ensuing.  — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1808.  2^9 

Messrs.  Samuel  Emmons  &  James  Phillips  were  chosen  sur- 
ceyers  of  Hemp  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Edw*^  Tuckerman  &  Josiah  Snelling  were  chosen  sur- 
veyors of  Wheat  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  John  Wells  &  W™  C.  Hunneman  were  chosen  Assay 
Masters  for  the  year  ensuing. 

The  Selectmen  -  -  -  were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Highways 
for  the  year  ensuing 

Messrs  Francis  James  &  Silas  Francis  were  chosen  Inspectors 
of  Lime  for  the  year  ensuing. 

[343.]  The  Petition  of  Mr  Perkins  Nichols  "that  the 
Town  would  agree  with  him  upon  the  terms  of  completing  Pond 
Street,  &  grant  him  such  further  Relief  as  may  appertain  to 
equity  &  Justice"  —  was  read  &  debated  —  and  the  question 
being  put  Whether  said  Petition  may  be  withdrawn  —  passed  in 
the  Affirmative  almost  unanimously  and  in  a  very  full  Meeting. 

David  Tilden  Esq.  having  by  Letter  requested  the  Town  that 
they  would  accept  of  his  resignation  as  a  Selectman,  into  which 
office  he  had  been  again  chosen  —  his  request  was  accordingly 
granted  —  and  on  Motion 

Voted,  Unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given 
him  for  his  good  &  faithful  Services  as  a  Selectman  for  Thirteen 
years  past. 

On  Motion  —  Adjourned  to  Monday  the  28*^  of  March  10 
<'Clock  A.M. 

Monday  the  28*^  of  March  10  o'Clock  AM. 
Met  According  to  Adjournment. 

Deacon  Kettell  having  declined  serving  further  as  a  Select- 
man —  it  was  moved  and  Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be 
given  him  for  his  good  &  faithful  services  while  in  Office.  — 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  two  Selectmen  in  the  room  of 
David  Tilden  Esq.  &  Deacon  Kettell  who  had  resigned  —  it 
appeared  that 

Mr  Nathan  Webb      -     -     -     -     321  ■ 
Mr  Joseph  Foster      .     -     -     -     320 

were  chosen. 

[343.]  The  Votes  being  brought  in  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the 
School  Committee  from  the  resignation  of  Rev.  Doct^'  Eckley  — 
it  appeared  that 

Rev.  William  E.  Channing  was  chosen  unanimously. 


230  City  Document  No.  115. 

Voted  unanimously  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  the 
Eev*^.  Joseph  Eckley  D.D.  for  his  good  &  faithful  services  as  one 
of  the  School  Committee  for  a  number  of  years  past.  — 

The  Votes,  being  brought  in  for  one  Fire  Ward  in  the  room  of 
Mr  Tilden,  who  dechnes  serving,  it  appeared  that  — 

Mr  Nath^  Curtis  was  chosen  unanimously. 

Mr  Joseph  Bacon  having  declined  serving  as  a  Hogreeve  & 
Haywa/rd  into  which  office  he  had  been  chosen  — 

Mr  Samuel  Winchester  —  was  chosen  a  Hayward  and  Hogreeve 
for  the  Year  ensuing. 

The  business  of  March  Meeting  being  jBnished,  it  was  moved  & 
Voted  unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  Joseph 
Russell  Esq.  for  his  good  services  in  giving  dispatch  to  the  Busi- 
ness of  the  Meeting. — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[344.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  of  21  years  of  age  and  upwards,  qualified  as  the  Con- 
stitution prescribes  &  legally  Warned  in  public  Town  Meeting 
Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  4"^  day  of  April  Anno 
Domini  1808.  9  °Clock  A.M.— 

Prayer  was  made  by  the  Rev.  Joseph  Clay. — 

The  Town  Clerk  informed  the  Meeting  that  all  the  Gentlemen 
chosen  Selectmen  for  the  present  year,  had  agreeable  to  a  late 
act  of  the  General  Court  qualified  themselves  for  that  office,  by 
taking  the  following  Oath  viz.  — "  That  they  would  faithfully  & 
impai'tially  discharge  the  duties  of  their  Office  respecting  all 
Elections,  and  the  returns  thereof"  which  Oath  was  administered 
to  them  by  John  Gardner  Esq.  Justice  of  the  Peace. — 

attest  William  Cooper  Town  Clerk. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read. 

Paragraph  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government  rela- 
tive to  the  Choice  of  Governor  Lieu*.  Governor  &  Senators  -  - 
read. — 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Vote  shall  be 
received  but  such  as  are  unfolded  &  that  they  propose  the  Poll 
shall  be  closed  at  2  °Clock  P.M.  the  Bells  to  begin  tolling  at  half 
past  1  oClock  &  to  continue  for  half  an  hour. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1808.  231 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Governour  with  the  number  of  Votes 
for  each  Person,  viz 

His  Excellency  James  Sullivan  Esq 2118. 

[345.]       Hon^'i".  Christopher  Gore  Esq.       -     -     -     .  2610 

Hon^ie.  Caleb  Strong  Esq. 3 

Hon''^®.  John  Coffin  Jones  Esq.     -     -     -     -  1 

Hon*'^^.  John  Adams  Esq. 1 

Hon^^®.  Elbridge  Gerry  Esq. 3 

Mr  John  Roulstone 1 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Lieu*.  Governour  with  the  number  of 
Votes  for  each  person  viz. 

Hon^i^  Levi  Lincoln  Esq 2119  — 

Hon^i^  David  Cobb  Esq 2624  — 

Hon^^®.  John  Q.  Adams  Esq 1 

Mr  William  Young 1 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Senators^  for  the  County  of  Suffolk, 
with  the  number  of  Votes  for  each  person  viz. — 

Hon^ie.  Harrison  G.  Otis  Esq. 2615 

Hon^^^  William  Spooner  Esq 2622 

Hon.  John  Phillips  Esq 2623 

Hon.  Peter  C.  Brooks  Esq 2620 

James  Lloyd  Jun""  Esq 2623 

Hon.  William  Eustis  Esq 2121 

David  Tilden  Esq 2119 

Samuel  Brown  Esq 2119 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq  - 2118 

Col.  Edward  Procter  Esq 2118 

Stephen  Codman  Esq 1 

John  Welles  Esq     --------  i 

Hon  Christopher  Gore  Esq 2 

Hon  John  C.  Jones  Esq 1 

Peter  Thacher  Esq 1 

[346.]  Attested  Copies  or  returns  of  the  Persons  Voted  for 
as  Governour^  Leu*.  Governour  &  Senators  for  the  County  of 
Suffolk  sealed  up  in  Town  Meeting  after  the  Vote  had  been 
declared,  to  be  transmitted  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Common- 
wealth as  prescribed  by  Law,  and  directed  as  follows  viz. 

To  Hon  Jonathan  L.  Austin  Esq. 

Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts.  — 
The  number  of  Votes  of  the  Town  of  Boston   for  Governour 
Lieu*.  Governour  Sfive  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  cer- 
tified within  &  sealed  up  in  Town  Meeting,  after  the  Votes  had 
been  declared. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


232  City  Document  No.  115. 

[347.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  of  21  years  of  age  &  upwards  qualified  as  the  Constitu- 
tion prescribes  &  legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meeting 
Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  ll''^  of  May  Anno 
Domini  1808.  9  O'Clock  A.M. 

The  Meeting  opened  with  Prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Buckminster. 
"Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read.  — 

That  pai't  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Covernment  which 
relates  to  the  choice  of  Representatives  —  read. — 

The  Town  having  determined  by  a  Vote  to  choose  31  persons 
to  represent  them  in  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  to  be 
holden  in  the  State  House  in  Boston  on  the  last  Wednesday  of 
May  current,  agreeable  to  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Govern- 
ment for  Massachusetts ;  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  by  the 
Selectmen  to  bring  in  their  Votes  for  Representatives  not  exceed- 
ing 31. — And  then  it  was  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no 
Votes  would  be  received  by  the  Selectmen  but  such  as  are 
unfolded  and  untill  the  Name  of  the  person  entering  shall  be 
marked  on  the  list  by  the  Gentlemen  assisting  for  that  purpose 
from  the  several  Wards  &  that  they  propose  the  Poll  should 
be  closed  at  J  past  2  oClock.  the  bells  to  begin  tolling  half  an 
hour  before  &  to  continue  untill  the  close  of  the  Poll. — 

[348.]  The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  31  Representatives, 
upon  sorting  them  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were 
chosen,  having  obtained  a  Majority  of  the  Votes  —  viz 

Christopher  Gore  William  Smith 

William  Brown  Jon*.  Hunnewell 

John  Welles  William  Phillips 

Stephen  Codman  Benjamin  Russell 

Daniel  Sargent  Tho®.  W.  Sumner 

John  Callender  Benj*.  Goddard 

Benj*.  Whitman  John  T.  Apthorp 

Thomas  Danforth  Charles  Davis 

Stephen  Higginson  J"".  Charles  Jackson 

Joseph  Head  Will™.  H.  Sumner 

James  Robinson  Jon**.   Chapman 

Benj*.  Bussey  Thomas  Dennie 

Joseph  Coolidge  J'.  Francis  D.  Channing 

Isaac  P.  Davis  John  Parker 

Eben'^.  T.  Andrews  Ignatius  Sargent 
William  Hammatt  Esquires. 

The  choice  of  Representatives  was  then  declared  by  the  Select- 
men. — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1808.  233 

of  those  Voted  for,  who  did  not  obtain  a  Choice,  The  following 
Gentlemen  had  the  number  of  Votes  set  against  their  respective 
names  — viz.  — 

William  Eustis       1250 

'Russell  Sturgis      1249 

David  Townsend  1249 


Dan^  Baxter 

1248 

David  Tilden 

1249 

Jon"*.  Harris 

1249 

Caleb  Bingham 

1248 

Thomas  Page 

1248 

Ed.  Procter 

1249 

Jacob  Rhoades 

1249 

Eben''.  Larkin 

1248 

Will"'.  Jarvis 

1248 

The  Meeting  was  then  Dissolved. 


[349.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned  in  pub- 
lic Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the 
12*^  day  of  May  Anno  Domini  1808.  — 10  "Clock  A.  M. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  read 

Stephen  Codman  Esq 
was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote. 

The  Inhabitants  brought  in  their  Votes  for  6  Trustees  for 
Towns  land  on  the  Neck  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  who  con- 
junctly are  to  lease  &  manage  said  lands  in  such  manner  as  shall 
appear  to  them  best  for  the  Interest  of  the  Town  —  the  Votes 
being  brought  in  &  sorted  it  appeared  that  — 

Hon.  William  Browne  Esq. 
Hon.  William  Phillips  Esq, 

William  Hammatt  Esq. 
Gen^  John  Winslow 

Joshua  Davis  Jun^'  Esq. 

Edw'^  Tuckerman  Esq. 
were  chosen. 

The  Selectmen  informed  the  Town  that  it  would  take  further 
time,  before  they  should  be  ready  to  report  on  the  new  Act  rela- 
tive to  Jurors.  — 

Voted,  That  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Monday  the  13*^^ 
Day  of  June  next  — 10  oClock  A.M  then  to  meet  at  this 
place. — 


234 


City  Document  No.  115. 


[350.]     Monday   13  ^^  Day  of  June  1 
Met  according  to  Adjournment. 


10  °Clk  A.M. — 


The  Subscribers  a  Committee  chosen  by  the  Inhabitants  March 
14*^  1808.  to  Audit  the  Accounts  of  the  Town  Treasurer,  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor,  Board  of  Health  &c  &c  and  to  Report  the  sum 
necessary  to  be  raised  for  the  present  year,  having  attended  that 
service,  beg  leave  to  Report.  — 

They  have  examined  the  Accounts  of  the  several  departments 
&  find  right  cast  &  well  vouched  —  Treasurers  Accounts  as 
follows  — 


Notes  receivable     - 

381.50 

By  Notes  payable  } 
for  Money   Borr*^.  ) 

26,706.98 

due  on  Tax  1803    - 

1,026.51 

D°.      -    d°.  1804    - 

6,488.46 

State  Tax       -     -     - 

19,543.33 

D°  -     -    d°    1805    - 

7,932.0 

County  Tax    -     -     - 

11,641.85 

D°  -     -    d°    1806    - 

15,994.31 

W"  Tukesbury    -     - 

74.15 

D°  -     -    d°    1807    - 

51,111.64 

Trustees  for  Neck") 
Land                           ) 

24.— 

Cash  Account     - 

169.21 

Town  Treasurer 
Outstanding  Debts   - 

13,684.64 

Dolls 

83103.63 

11,428.65 

$83,103.60 

The  Abatements  on  1804,  1805  &  1806,  have  not  been  [paid] 
since  making  up  the  above  Accounts,  the  Treasurer  has  received 
upwards  of  $17,000  Dollars,  which  has  been  paid  to  discharge 
part  of  the  above  sums.  — 


The  Committee  Report  an  Estimate  for  the   Present  Year 
as  follows 


School   Masters    & 

Am°  b*.  forw'^.     -     - 

22,400— 

Ushers      -     -     . 

13,300   Three  Assistants       - 

2,448 

Repairs   of  schools 

Town  Clerk    -     -     - 

1,000 

&  Wood      .   -     - 

1,100   Constables  services  - 

700 

Town  Watch     -     - 

6,500   Judge     Municipal 

Town    Treasurer ") 
&  Collector       j 

1,500       ^°"^^     -     -     -     - 

750 

"Dnll^ 

27,298— 

22,400 

[351.]     Amount  brought  over 

27,298— 

Police  Officers      -     - 

1,000 

Paving  Streets      -     - 

8,000 

Messenger  &  Door  Keeper  to  Select- 

men 

400 

Engine 

Repairs  &  Premiums     -     -     - 

600 

Lamps, 

Oil  &  Lighting  Lamps        -     - 

5,000 

Boston  Town  Records,  1808.  235 

Printing  &  Stationary 400 

Overseers  of  the  Poor 16,000 

Board  of  Health 5,000 

Bells  &  Clocks 400 

Incidental  Charges 1,902 


DolP.  66,000— 

From  the  above  Statement  your  Committee  are  of  opinion  that 
the  Town  should  raise  Sixty  Six  Thousand  Dollars  to  defray 
the  expences  of  the  Town  the  present  year,  all  which  is  submitted 
by  —  Joseph  Eussell. 

The  foregoing  Report  having  been  read  &  considered  —  the 
Question  was  put  —  ' '  Whether  the  same  shall  be  accepted  "  — 
Passed  in  the  Affirmative  —  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  Sixty  Six  Thousand  Dollars  be  raised 
by  a  Tax  to  be  Assessed  on  the  Polls  &  Estates  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  this  Town  to  defray  the  Expences  of  the  Town  the  Cur- 
rent  Year. 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  Seven  hundred  &  fifty  Dollars  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  the  Hon''^  Thomas  Dawes  J*'.  Esq  for  his 
Salary  as  Judge  of  the  Municipal  [353]  Court  the  present 
year.  — 

Voted,  That  the  Hon^'^^.  William  Smith  Esq.  Town  Treasurer 
&  Collector  of  Taxes  the  present  year  [should  have]  the  sum  of 
$1500,  he  to  pay  his  Clerk,  Assistant  Office  hire,  and  all  expences 
of  Office.  — 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  One  Thousand  Dollars  be  allowed  & 
paid  uuto  William  Cooper  for  his  Salary  as  Town  Clerk,  the  year 
ensuing. 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  $816  be  allowed  &  paid  to  each 
of  the  three  Assessors,  for  their  services  in  that  Office  the  year 
ensuing.  — 

On  Motion  Adjourned  to  Monday  27*^  of  June  Instant 
10.  O'clock  A.M.  in  order  to  receive  the  Report  of  the  Committee 
relative  to  regulating  Jury  Boxes.  — 

June  21^^  1808.  10  O'Clock  A.M.  Met  according  to  Adjourn- 
ment. — 

The  late  Law  relative  to  Jurors  —  was  read  — 

The  Selectmen  Report  and  Present  Lists  of  Persons  in  their 
opinion  best  qualified    for   the   Jury   Boxes  —  One   list  for   the 


236  City  Document  No.  115. 

Grand  &  Traverse  Jurors  and  the  other  Hst  for  the  Petit  Jurors, 
at  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas — They  find  the  whole  number  of 
names  to  be  5,300  —  after  deducting  such  persons  as  were 
excused  by  Law,  of  those  they  present  a  list  of  one  quarter  part, 
being  1306  for  the  first  Box  &  1447  for  the  Second  Box. —the 
same  being  accepted  by  the  Town  —  It  was  moved,  and  after 
debate  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  [353]  to 
regulate  the  Jury  Boxes,  so  as  best  to  answer  the  intentions  of 
the  law.  — 

On  Motion  Voted,  That  in  consideration  of  the  Duties  & 
services  which  devolve  upon  the  Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  Members  of  the  Board  of  Health,  Fire  Wards  &  the 
Engine-men  of  this  Town  —  The  Committee  for  revising  & 
arranging  the  lists  for  the  Jury  Boxes  be  directed  to  omit  putting 
the  names  of  all  such  persons  in  either  of  the  Boxes. 

On  Motion  Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to 
Stephen  Codman  Esq.  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator  in 
dispatching  the  business  of  the  Meeting.  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[354.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned  in  Public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  4*^  Day 
of  July  A.D.  1808.  —  9  O'Clock  A.M. 

William  Cooper  chosen  —  Moderator.  — 

The  Committee  appointed  the  last  year  to  make  choice  of  a 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  Inde- 
pendence, Reported,  That  they  had  chosen  Andrew  Ritchie  Jun'. 
Esq.  who  has  accepted  of  the  Appointment  — 

Adjourned  to  the  Old  South  Church  12  O'Clock  noon. 

AN    ORATION 

to   commemorate   the   Independence  of   the   United    States  was 
delivered  by  Andrew  Ritchie  Ju''.  Esq.  at  the  Old  South  Church  — 

On  Motion  Yoted^  That  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  wait 
on  Andrew  Ritchie  Jun^  Esq.  and  in  the  name  of  the  Town  to 
Thank  him  for  the  Elegant  &  Spirited  Oration  this  day  delivered 
by  him  at  the  request  of  the  Town,  upon  the  Anniversary  of  the 
Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America  in  which  accord- 
ing to  the  Institution  of  the  Town,  he  considered  the  manners, 
feelings  &  principles  which  led  to  that  great  National  Event  — 
and  to  request  of  him  a  copy  thereof  for  the  Press. — 


BosTO]s-  Town  Recoeds,  1808.  237 

On  Motion  Voted,  That  [355]  the  Gentlemen,  Selectmen  be 
&  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  apply  to  some  able  & 
learned  Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  the  4***  of  July  A.D. 
1809. — that  day  being  the  Anniversary  of  the  Independence  of 
the  United  States  of  America,  wherein  the  Orator  is  to  consider 
the  feelings,  manners  &  principles  which  led  to  this  great 
National  Event ;  as  well  as  the  important  &  happy  effects, 
whether  general  or  Domestic  which  have  already  or  will  forever 
flow  from  that  auspicious  Epoch.  — 

Then  the  meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[356.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  in  Public  Town  Meet- 
ing Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Tuesday  the  9"^  Day  of 
August,  10  "Clock  A.M.  1808. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting     -     -     read. 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 
chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote  —  not  being  present 

Stephen  Codman  Esq. 
was   chosen   Moderator   by    a   hand    Vote    &    took    the    Chair 
accordingly. — 

The  Petition  for  calling  the  Meeting  read  —  as  also  the  Notifi- 
cation for  said  purpose,  when  the  Hon^  Jonathan  Mason  Esq  — 
after  a  number  of  remarks  on  the  subject  offered  the  following 
Motion  in  the  form  of  a  Resolve  —  viz  — 

Resolved,  that  it  is  expedient  for  this  Town  respectfully  to 
Petition  the  President  of  the  United  States,  to  suspend  the 
Embargo  either  wholly  or  partially  according  to  the  powers 
vested  in  him  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States ;  or  if  any 
doubt  should  exist  as  to  the  sufficiency  of  those  powers,  that  he 
be  requested  to  call  Congress  together  as  soon  as  possible  and 
that  a  Committee  of  seven  be  appointed  to  prepare  &  submit  tp 
the  Town  a  petition  in  Conformity  —  after  a  spirited  debate  of 
some  length  the  Motion  to  adopt  the  Question  as  [357]  pro- 
posed by  Mr.  Mason  passed  by  a  very  great  Majority.  — 

The  following  Gentlemen  were  then  chosen  on  the  Committee  — 
viz.  — 

Hon  Jon'^  Mason  Esq 

Mr    Daniel  Sargent 

Hon  Christopher  Gore  Esq 

Arnold  Wells  Esq 
Hon  John  Phillips  Esq 
Mr  James  Perkins 
Hon  William  Brown  Esq 


238  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  Town  then  added  the  Moderator,  Stephen  Codman  Esq  and 
on  Motion  Adjourned  to  4  oClock  P.M.  Then  to  receive  the 
Report  of  the  Committee.  — 

•i  O'clock  P.M.  Met  accordmg  to  Adjournment  when  the 
Committee  Reported  the  following  Memorial  which  was  read  from 
the  Chair,  and  passed  almost  Unanimously.  — 

To  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

The  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston  in  legal  Town  Meeting 
Assembled,  beg  leave  respectfully  to  represent.  — 

That  uniformly  influenced  by  a  sense  of  Patriotism,  &  a  respect 
for  the  Constituted  Authorities  of  their  Country,  they  have  sus- 
tained without  opposition  or  complaint  the  embarassments  &  losses 
ai-ising  from  the  existing  embargo  on  the  vessells  &  export  trade 
of  [358]  the  United  States  :  and  they  trust  that  the  history  of 
the  revolutionary  war,  &  the  annals  of  the  present  government 
will  furnish  ample  testunony  of  their  readiness  to  make  any  per- 
sonal sacrifices  &  to  endure  .any  privations  which  the  public 
welfare  may  truly  require.  — 

That  they  are  fully  aware  of  the  indispensable  necessity  of  sup- 
porting at  all  times,  the  laws  enacted  by  the  Government  of  their 
choice.  Under  this  impression  they  have  refrained  from  express- 
ing the  wishes  they  most  sensibly  feel  for  the  removal  of  the 
Embargo,  &  but  for  the  great  events  in  Europe,  which  materially 
change  the  aspect  of  our  foreign  relations,  they  would  yet  silently 
wait  for  the  Meeting  of  Congress,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  from 
that  Honourable  Body  relief  from  the  pressure  of  this  great  cal- 
amity, which  bears  with  peculiar  weight  on  the  Eastern  States.  — 

Denied  by  nature  those  valuable  &  luxuriant  Staples  which 
constitute  the  riches  of  the  south,  they  necessarily  owe  much  of 
their  prosperity  under  the  Blessing  of  Heaven  to  their  own  enter- 
prize  &  Industry  on  the  Ocean.  — 

It  is  therefore  a  duty  as  well  as  a  right  to  avail  themselves  of 
every  fair  occasion  which  may  offer,  for  procuring  the  removal 
of  the  existing  restraints  upon  their  maritime  Commerce,  more 
especially  when  this  may  be  [359]  Effected  in  a  mode  consistent 
with  the  laws  &  policy  l3y  which  they  were  imposed.  — 

They  therefore  pray  that  the  Embargo  in  whole  or  in  part  may 
be  suspended  according  to  the  powers  vested  in  the  President  by 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  &  if  any  doubt  should  exist 
of  the  competency  of  those  powers  they  would  humbly  request  that 
the  Congress  may  be  convened  as  early  as  possible,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  taking  the  subject  into  their  consideration 

It  was  then  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  in  behalf  of  the  Town 
transmit  this  Petition  to  the  President  of  the  United  States.  — 

On  Motion  of  Hon.  William  Brown  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen 


Boston  Town  Records,  1809.  239 

be  a  Committee  to  communicate  the  proceedings  of  the  Town  to 
the  Selectmen  of  the  other  Towns  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  to 
request  them,  if  they  see  fit,  to  lay  the  same  before  their  several 
Town's  for  their  concurrence.  — 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Stephen  Cod- 
man  Esq.  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for  his  good  services 
therein. — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[360.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned,  in 
public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday 
the  7*^  day  of  November,  A.D.  1808.—  9  oClock  A.M.— 

Prayer  by  Rev*^  Mr  Huntington. — 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  rsad. 

Paragraph  of  a  Resolve  of  the  General  Court  for  choosing  one 
Representative  for  Suifolk  district  —  read. — 

Bells  to  begin  tolling  at  2  °Clock  — 
Poll  to  be  closed  at  ^  past  two  O'Clock,    as   declared  by  the 
Selectmen. — 

Persons  Voted  for  as  a  Representative  for  the  Suffolk  District 
in  this  Commonwealth  in  the  next  Congress  of  the  United  States  — 
viz. 

Hon^^^  Josiah  Quincy  Esq.  Twenty  five  hundred  &  thirteen 
William  Jarvis  Jun.  Thirteen  hundred  &  ninety  five 
Hon*'!®  William  Eustis  Esq.  Two,  Tho^  Lewis  Jr.  One. 

and  declaration  made  thereof  in  Town  Meeting  by  the  Selectmen  — 
A  return  of  the  doings  of  this  Meeting  made  out  &  put  into  the 
hands  of  Mr  Sheriff  Allen  to  be  given  to  the  Hon  William  Tudor 
Esq.,  Secretary  of  this  Commonwealth,  which  return  was  conform- 
able to  the  one  in  the  Town  Officer. — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


1809. 

[361.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned  in  public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  23*^ 
Day  of  January  A.D.  1809.  10  "Clock  Forenoon 


240  City  Document  No.  115. 

The  Meeting  was  opened  with  prayer,  by  Dr  Lathrop. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read. 

Col  Perkins  was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote  —  having 
excused  himself  from  serving 

Stephen  Codman  Esq 
was  chosen  Moderator,  &  took  the  Chair  Accordingly. 

Hon  Tho^.  H.  Perkins  presented  a  number  of  Resolutions,  for 
the  consideration  of  the  Town  — 

A  previous  Motion  of  Dr.   Eustis   for  a  short  Adjournment  did 
not  obtain.  — 

The  Resolutions,  being  distinctly  read  and  debate  had 
thereon  —  the  Question  was  largely  called  for  —  &  being  put  — 
Whether  said  Resolutions  shall  be  accepted  —  Passed  in  the  Affir- 
mative by  a  very  respectable  majority. 

It  was  then  moved  &  Voted  —  that  a  Committee  of  seven  be 
appointed  to  draw  a  Petition  to  the  General  Court  conformable 
to  said  Resolutions  —  Whereupon  the  Nominations  being  called 
for  —  The  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen  —  viz.  — 

[363.]     Hon  Thomas  H.  Perkins  Esq.  Hon  J.  C.  Jones  Esq. 
Hon  Samuel  Dexter  Esq.         Dr  Joseph  Warren  Esq. 
William  Sullivan  Esq      Hon  Jon^  Mason  Esq 
Theodore  Lyman  Esq 

An  Adjournment  being  moved  —  Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be 
Adjourned  to  Tuesday  next  10.  O'Clock  A.M. 

Tuesday  Jan?  24^^—10.  O'Clock  A.M.  Met  according  to 
Adjournment  — 

The  Committee  appointed  on  the  Yesterday,  to  prepare  a  Peti- 
tion to  the  General  Court,  conformably  to  the  Resolutions  then 
passed  —  Reported  the  following  draft  —  which  being  read  & 
largely  debated,  was  accepted  by  a  large  Majority  of  Citizens, 
in  a  crowded  Assembly  and  is  as  follows  viz.  — 

To  the  Honourable  the  Senate,  &  House  of  Representatives  of 
the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  The  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  in  legal  Town  Meeting  Assembled,  respectfully 
represent.  — 

That  they  are  constrained  to  apply  to  your  Honourable  Body, 
as  the  immediate  guardians  of  their  rights  &  liberties,  for  your 
interposition,  to  procure  for  them,  relief    from  the   greivances, 


Boston  Town  Recokds,  1809.  241 

which  they  now  suffer,  &  those  which  they  have  reason  to  appre- 
hend, under  the  operation  of  the  Laws  of  the  General  Govern- 
ment, abolishing  foreign  commerce,  [363]  and  subjecting  the 
coasting  trade  to  embarrassments,  which  threaten  its  anni- 
hilation. — 

That  the  provision  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States 
which  declares,  that  all  powers,  not  expressly  delegated  to  them, 
are  reserved  to  the  respective  States,  or  to  the  People,  we  con- 
ceive to  be  a  fundamental  principle  of  the  confederation. 

We  submit  to  the  consideration  of  the  Legislature,  whether 
this  most  important  maxim  has  not  been  violated,  by  the  passing 
of  an  Act,  in  the  first  instance  permanently  prohilDiting  foreign 
commerce,  and  thus  subjecting  this  all  important  object  of  the 
National  Government,  to  the  pleasure  of  the  Executive  and  one 
third  part  of  the  Senate.  So  extravagant  an  Exercise  of  Power 
was  calculated  to  excite  jealousy  &  alarm,  and  to  rouse  a  spirit 
of  opposition  among  a  people,  of  thousands  of  whom  it  may  be 
AflSrmed  that  their  home  is  on  the  Ocean^  and  with  respect  to  all 
of  whom,  it  is  certain,  that  their  prosperity,  by  the  unchangeable 
circumstances  of  local  situation,  immemorial  habits,  and  the 
established  relations  of  society,  is  absolutely  dependent  on  Com- 
merce. — 

Your  Memorialists  were  not,  however  swift  to  condemn,  nor 
rash  to  violate  the  provisions  of  the  first  Act,  they  were  on  the 
contrary  disposed  to  acquiesce  in  a  measure  [3(>4]  which,  tho 
beyond  their  comprehension  might  have  originated  in  circum- 
stances not  disclosed  to  them.  —  They  trusted  to  the  assurances 
of  the  Executive  Message,  that  it  was  merely  a  measure  of  pre- 
caution ;  and  to  the  imperious  necessities  of  the  Nation,  that  its 
duration  would  be  short.  —  But  as  the  projectors  of  this  experi- 
ment advanced  to  the  maturity  of  their  system,  the  mask  was 
gradually  lifted ;  and  while  official  communications  at  home  and 
abroad,  insisted  upon  the  merely  pacific,  and  preservative  charac- 
ter of  the  Embargo  Laws,  it  was  disclosed,  from  other  sources, 
that  their  true  features  were  those  of  hostility  and  coercion ;  and 
the  Administration,  and  their  friends,  no  longer  conceal,  that  the 
Embargo  is  "  War  in  disguise,"  and  is  soon  to  be  followed  by 
open  Wctr. 

In  the  process  —  of  this  experiment  the  truth  of  opinions  which 
were  at  once  familiar  to  the  well  informed  and  soon  apparent  to 
all,  the  folly  of  the  supposition,  that  the  commerce  of  the  New 
World  was  indispensable  to  the  existence,  or  even  comfort,  of 
Nations  which  had  flourished  many  thousand  years  before  its 
discovery,  became  sufficiently  manifest  to  cover  with  confusion 
all  its  supporters,  whose  intellects  were  not  infected  by  the  pride 
of  system,  the  passions  of  party,  or  by  foreign  predilection.  To 
Great  Britain  the  measure  was  not  pi'obably,  unacceptable,  as  it 
has  operated  most  Auspiciously  upon  [365]  her  Colonies, 
teaching  them  the  fatal  secret  of  their  entire  independence  of  our 
country,  and  stimulating  them  to  a  successful  competition  with 
us,  in  those  branches  of  commerce,  which  have  been  almost  ex- 


242  City  Document  No.  115. 

cliisively  our  own.  — To  France  this  abandonment  of  the  Ocean. 
is  grateful,  as  it  is  a  substantial  compliance  with  the  mandates 
issued  by  her,  to  her  Vassal  Nations  ;  and  in  this  view  it  has 
received  the  open  approbation  of  the  Emperor.  — 

Against  Great  Britain  &  France  it  is  equally  impotent  as  a 
measure  of  coercion ;  but  to  our  own  country  it  is  fraught  with 
absolute  destruction.  — It  is  our  Country  only  that  it  deprives  of 
a  commerce,  which  after  having  been  long  suspended,  may  be 
irrecoverably  lost.  It  is  our  Country  alone,  that  must  be  con- 
vulsed, and  rent,  by  the  dissensions  growing  out  of  this  unprec- 
edented system  of  violence,  imposed  by  one  section  of  the  Union 
upon  the  other.  —  It  is  by  our  Country  only,  that  this  system 
must  be  felt  &  deprecated,  as  a  Judgment  of  God,  decending  on 
a  Nation  through  the  infatuation  of  its  Rulers. 

Your  memorialists  beg  leave  further  to  remind  your  Honour- 
able Body,  that  the  National  Government  not  content  with  abol- 
ishing by  standing  laws,  that  commerce  which  it  is  one  of  their 
principal  [366]  functions  to  protect,  have  thought  themselves 
authorized  to  resort  to  those  means  of  compelling  obedience  which 
are  never  necessary,  except  when  despotism  opposes  its  terrors 
to  the  established  habits  and  opinions  of  a  people.  —  A  late  Act 
has  accordingly  been  passed  for  enforcing  the  Embargo,  the  provi- 
sions of  which  are  so  repugnant  to  the  Constitution  and  to  the 
first  principles  of  a  free  Government,  that  on  this  subject  your 
Memorialists  want  language  to  express  their  grief  and  abhor- 
rence. — 

Under  colour  of  this  Law,  a  Citizen  is  subjected  to  penalties, 
and  forfitures,  though  not  privy  to  any  breach  of  its  provisions. 
He  may  be  charged  with,  &  convicted,  of  crimes  and  Offences, 
though  innocent  of  intentions  to  commit  them.  — He  is  subject  to 
unreasonable  searches,  &  seizures  of  property,  upon  mere  suspi- 
cion of  an  intention  to  violate  the  Law,  and  the  discretion  of  an 
interested  Officer  is  the  standard,  by  which  the  reasonableness  of 
the  suspicion  must  be  tested.  — His  Vessels,  his  Warehouse,  the 
most  secret,  and  sacred  depositories  of  his  property  &  effects, 
not  excepting  his  Habitation,  are  liable  to  be  ransacked,  upon 
mere  suspicion  by  a  military  force  under  general  instructions 
from  the  President  of  the  United  States  ;  and  when  by  the  act  of 
God,  he  is  prevented  from  complying  with  the  requisitions  of  the 
statute,  [367]  he  is  deprived  of  the  benefit  of  his  tryal  by  Jury 
(unless  he  can  furnish  a  species  of  e^^dence,  which  will  be  in 
most  cases,  impossible)  and  must  rely  for  mercy  upon  the  mere 
will  and  pleasure  of  an  individual  dependent  on  Executive  favour. 

In  short  as  the  Act  alluded  to  will  be  before  your  Honours,  it 
is  superfluous  to  swell  the  grevious  commentary  to  which  every 
section  is  fairly  liable.  We  in  all  duty  &  humility,  therefore, 
call  your  attention  to  it  as  an  Act  oppressive  beyond  any  prec- 
edent in  this  country,  and  requiring  from  ns  the  exercise  of  all 
the  patience,  &  moderation,  of  all  the  self-denial,  and  sacrifice 
of  feeling  to  our  love  of  order  and  respect  for  the  Authority  of 
the  Government  of  the  Union,  of  which  we  are  capable.  —  We 


Boston  Town  Ebcords,  1809.  243 

are  unable  to  assign  any  adequate  motive  that  could  have  led  our 
rulers  to  the  adoption  of  the  measures  which  we  have  stated, 
excepting  a  deliberate  determination  to  pursue  a  system,  which 
might  involve  us  in  such  calamities,  as  seem  to  make  a  war 
inevitable  without  such  motive  they  could  have  no  interest  in  pro- 
ducing unnecessary  sacrifices  and  violations  of  principle  —  when 
we  view  the  course  of  measures,  which  the  Government  of  the 
United  States  have  of  late  pursued,  and  listen  to  the  declaration 
made  by  its  advocates,  that  war  is  inevitable,  we  are  reluctantly 
driven  to  the  conclusion  that  it  has  been  predetermined  [368] 
on  &  sought ;  and  that  less  regard  is  paid  to  the  necessity  or 
justice  of  this  war,  than  to  its  subserviency  to  the  views  of  the 
dominant  party.  — 

But  against  whom  is  this  war  to  be  waged  ?  undoubtedly  against 
Great  Britain.  For  under  whatever  aspect  of  hostility,  towards 
both  of  the  Belligerents,  war  maybe  commenced,  it  is  most  mani- 
fest that  it  would  be  continued  against  one  only,  and  it  is  but 
too  probable,  that  it  would  soon  involve  an  alliance  with  the  other. 
The  effects  of  such  an  alliance  with  a  nation,  whose  only  distinc- 
tion between  friends  and  enemies,  consists  in  heaping  upon  the 
former,  the  greatest  weight  of  injuries,  and  oppression,  is  so  well 
depicted  in  the  history  of  our  own  times,  as  to  require  no  illustra- 
tion from  us.  with  such  an  ally  every  victory  would  be  deplored 
as  a  defeat ;   &  final  success  would  be  certain  ruin. — 

Thus  situated,  our  hope  &  consolation  rest  with  the  Legislature 
of  our  state,  to  whom  it  is  competent  to  devise  means  of  relief 
against  unconstitutional  measures  of  the  General  Government. 

That  your  powers  are  adequate  to  this  object  is  evident  from 
the  organization  of  the  confederacy ;  and  is  admited  in  the 
elementary  treatise  upon  the  Federal  constitution  written,  in  part, 
by  the  President  of  these  States  — 

We  refrain  from  suggesting  Expedients  :  but  we  rely  on  you 
to  show,  that  while  Massachusetts  is  second  to  none  of  the  States 
in  her  attachment  to  the  Union,  Liberties  &  honour  of  the  Nation, 
she  cannot  [369]  admit  the  right,  assumed  by  the  National 
Government  of  compelling  her  to  abandon  the  Ocean  to  renounce 
commerce,  to  change  the  habits  of  her  industry,  and  submit  to  be 
the  victim  of  a  desolating  policy  ;  but  above  all  we  do  confidently 
rely  on  you,  to  convince  our  National  Rulers,  that  we  ought  not, 
and  cannot  submit  to  be  plunged  into  a  ruinous,  &  unnecessary 
war  with  any  European  Nation. — 

We  solemnly  pledge  ourselves,  and  everything  dear  to  Free- 
men, to  support  whatever  measures  the  Legislature  of  this  Com- 
monwealth may  think  proper  to  adopt  to  preserve  the  rights  & 
Liberties  of  our  Country. 

T.  H.  Perkins  per  Order 

It  was  then  moved  &  Voted,  that  the  Gentlemen,  the  Selectmen 
be  a  Committee  to  present  this  Petition  to  the  Legislature  in 
behalf  of  the  Town. 


244  City  Document  No.  115. 

Cap*.  Daniel  Sargent  then  arose  &  offered  the  following  addi- 
tional Resolutions,  which  he  read  in  his  place,  &  which  being 
seconded  and  presented  to  the  Chair  they  were  then  read  by  the 
Moderator,  &  passed  without  debate.  — viz. 

Whereas  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  have  expressed,  in  their 
Memorial  to  the  Legislature  of  this  State,  their  opinions  on  the 
aspect  of  our  national  affairs  to  the  general  system  of  Policy 
adopted  b}^  the  National  Government,  [370]  and  whatever 
difference  of  opinion  may  have  heretofore  existed  on  these  sub- 
jects, yet  all  men  who  value  personal  security  and  civil  Liberty, 
must  now  concur  in  reprobating  the  arbitrary,  unjust,  &  tyrannical 
provisions  of  the  act  passed  on  the  ninth  of  this  month,  for  en- 
forcing the  Embargo  Laws ;  and  it  is  therefore  expedient  to 
declare  more  fully  the  sentiments  &  feelings  of  the  Town  on  this 
subject;  And,  Whereas,  this  act  is  in  many  respects  repugnant 
to  the  Constitution  of  the  U.  States,  the  State  Constitution,  and 
to  the  fundamental  principles  of  all  free  Governments ; 

Inasmuch,  as  the  enjoyment  and  use  of  our  property,  instead  of 
being  defined  &  protected  hj  '■'■  /Standing  Jjciios  "  are  subjected 
to  the  arbitrary  will  of  the  President,  &  to  the  caprice,  the  igno- 
rance or  malevolence  of  Officers,  who  may  be  appointed  by  him, 
who  are  authorized  to  refuse  to  one  Citizen  what  is  permitted  to 
another^  and  to  interdict  at  one  time  what  was  allowable  & 
lawful  at  another  : 

Instead  of  being  "secure  from  unreasonable  searches  and 
seizures,"  we  are  exposed  to  the  arbitrary  power  of  those  officers 
who,  at  their  own  discretion,  or  according,  to  secret  instructions 
which  they  are  bound  to  obey,  are  authorized  to  violate  all  our 
possessions,  to  seize  any  property  which  they  may  think  fit  to 
consider  suspicious,  and  detain  it  untill  bonds  are  given  to  any 
amount  which  they  may  choose  to  require. 

[371.]  An  attempt  is  even  made  to  deprive  us  of  all  remedy 
by  ha^^ng  recourse  to  the  laws  and  Courts  of  Justice,  where  if  we 
complain  of  injuries  committed  under  this  act,  by  an  officer  of  the 
United  States,  he  is  to  be  justified  and  defended  not  according  to 
published  and  "  Standing  Laws  "  but  by  secret  &  changeable  in- 
structions from  the  President. —  By  this  act  one  Citizen  is  liable 
to  be  seriously  punished  for  the  conduct  of  another,  with  whom, 
he  has  no  connection  whatever,  and  over  whom  he  has  no 
control. — 

Owners  of  vessels  laden  under  the  inspection  of  Custom  house 
officers,  with  special fjermission  of  the  Collectors,  and  the  express 
sanction  of  the  Laws  are  now  treated  as  offenders,  &  subjected  to 
heavy  pecuniary  penalties  and  losses,  &  are  liable  even  to  forfeit 
the  whole,  in  consequences  of  a  proceeding  which  was  at  the  time 
lawful  and  justifiable. —  When  exposed  by  inevitable  accident  to 
the  rigorous  penalties  of  this  act,  the  citizen  is  required  to  excul- 
pate himself  by  a  species  of  evidence,  in  many  cases  impossible  to 


Boston  Town  Records,  1809.  245 

be  produced,  and  is  then  left  to  sue  for  mercy  and  pardon  to  the 
STAR  CHAMBER  decisions  of  an  Executive  officer.  And 
finally,  By  this  Act  our  property  may  be  seized  and  detained  by 
military  force ;  thereby  preventing  a  resort  to  the  civil  tribunals 
&  laws  of  the  Country,  and  destroying  subordination  of  the 
military  to  the  civil  Authority;  the  standing  Army  &  Militia 
may  be  employed  for  this  purpose  [3 '7  3]  by  any  petty  officer 
empowered  by  the  Administration,  who  may  thus  at  their 
pleasure  involve  us  in  all  the  horrors  of  a  civil  war,  or  expose  us 
to  the  more  dreadful  alternative  of  a  Military  Despotism. 

Therefore  Resolved,  That  we  will  not  voluntarily  aid  or  assist  in 
the  execution  of  the  Act  passed  on  the  ninth  day  of  this  month, 
for  enforcing  the  several  Embargo  Laws ;  and  all  those  who  shall 
assist  in  enforcing  on  others  the  arbitrary  &  unconstitutional 
provisions  of  this  act,  ought  to  be  considered  as  enemies  to  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  of  this  State,  and  hostile 
to  the  Liberties  of  this  People. — 

Resolved,  That  the  raising  a  large  standing  Army  in  a  time  of 
profound  peace  with  the  name  and  title  of  "  Volunteers'"  for  the 
purpose  of  enforcing  Arbitrary  &  unconstitutional  Laws,  &  the 
attempt  to  place  the  Military  above  the  civil  authority  —  though 
it  cannot  overaw  or  dismay  this  great  &  poioerful  People  —  yet 
must  be  considered  as  dangerous  to  Liberty  &  ought  to  call  forth 
the  most  pointed  disapprobation  of  all  its  friends. — 

Resolved,  That  the  example  given  by  that  veteran  Soldier  Gen^ 
Lincoln,  &  other  undeviating  Patriots,  in  resigning  Offices  in- 
tended to  be  prostituted  to  subserve  the  purposes  of  oppressing 
the  citizens,  and  enforcing  arbitrary  edicts,  ought  to  be  imi- 
tated by  all  Public  officers,  and  that  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town 
consider  it  an  highly  honourable  [373]  sacrifice  of  individual 
emolument  to  Public  welfare.  Voted,  that  these  Resolutions  be 
adopted  by  the  Town  and  printed  in  the  public  Papers. — 

attest  William  Cooper  Town  Clerk. 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Stephen 
Codman  Esq  Moderator  of  this  Meeting  for  his  good  Services 
therein. — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[374.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned  in 
public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall,  on  Monday  the 
13**1  (Jay  of  March  Anno  Domini  1809.     10  O'Clock  A.M. 

Prayer  made  by  Rev'^.  Mr.  Cary. — 

Warrant  for  calling  this  Meeting  —  read, — 


246  City  Document  No.  115. 

Sundry  Laws  or  extracts  of  Laws  to  be  read  at  this  Meeting  — 
were  accordingly  —  read. — 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 
chosen  Moderator,  by  a  hand  Vote  &  took  the  Chair. 

William  Cooper 
was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  year  ensuing  &  took  the  oath  of 
Office,  which  was  Administered  to  him  by  Charles  Bulfinch  Esq. 

Votes  having  been  brought  in  for  nine  Selectmen,  counted  & 
sorted,  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen, 
viz. 

Charles  Bulfinch  Esq.  Mr.  Benjamin  Weld 

Mr  Eben^'.  Oliver,  William  Porter  Esq 

John  May  Esq.  Jon^.  Hunnewell  Esq 

Mr  Nathan  Webb  Francis  Wright  Esq 

Mr.  Joseph  Foster. 

The  Votes  for  a  Town  Treasurer  &  Collector  of  Taxes  for  the 
present  year,  being  brought  in  &  sorted,  it  appeared  that 

William  Smith  Esq. 
was  chosen.  — 

[375.]  The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen  — 
viz. 

Edward  Procter  Esq.  Henry  Hill  Esq 

William  Smith  Esq.  William  PhiUips  Esq 

Redford  Webster  Esq.  Thomas  Perkins  Esq, 

Mr.  Samuel  SnelHng  Samuel  Clap  Esq 

Mr.  Ozias  Goodwin  Mr  William  Mackay 

Joseph  Coolidge  Ju''.  Esq.  Mr  Jos  Richards 

Mr  Benjamin  Goddard,  having  decUned  serving,  it  was  Voted, 
That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  him  for  his  good  services, 
while  in  that  Office. 

Thomas  Melville  Esq.  Joseph  May  Esq. 

And^^.  Cunningham  Esq.  Joseph  Head  Esq. 

Thomas  H  Perkins  Esq.  Gen.  John  Winslow 

Stephen  Codman  Esq.  John  Bray  Esq. 

Mr  Thomas  Dennie  Gen  Simon  Elliot 

Jon^.  Hunnewell  Esq.  Dan\  Messinger  Esq 

Mr.  Thomas  Curtis  Joshua  Davis  Ju*'.  Esq. 

Benj*.  Smith  Mr.  Benjamin  Coates 

William  Sullivan  Esq.  Mr.  Ignatius  Sargent 

Mr.  Samuel  Sweet  Mr.  Edward  Cruft 

Cap*.  Barker  Baker  James  Phillips  Esq 

Bryant  P.  Tilden  Esq.  Nathaniel  Curtis 
were  chosen  Fire  Wards  for  the  year  ensuing. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1809.  247 

Voted,  that  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  12  persons  shall  now 
be  chosen  a  School  Committee  &  the  Votes  being  brought  in  & 
sorted,  it  [376]  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were 
chosen  viz 

Rev  Joseph  Eckley  D.  D. 
Rev.  J.  T.  Kirkland  D.  D. 
William  Smith  Esq. 
David  Greene  Esq 
Rev  William  Emmerson 
Charles  Davis  Esq. 
Dr.  Thomas  Welsh 
Dr.  Aaron  Dexter 
Arnold  Welles  Esq 
Hon.  John  PhilKps  Esq 
John  Heard  Esq 
John  Davis  Esq. 

Voted,  that  the  above  named  Gentlemen  who  conjunctly  with 
the  Selectmen  are  termed  the  School  Committee,  be  and  hereby 
are  directed  to  carry  the  neio  System,  of  Education  which  has 
been  adopted  by  the  Town,  into  operation,  and  said  Committee 
are  also,  authorized  —  empowered  conjunctly  to  manage  &  regu- 
late the  Officers  &  the  Government  of  the  Schools  &  in  future  to 
execute  all  the  powers  relative  to  the  Schools,  &  School  Masters, 
which  the  Selectmen  or  such  Committees  were  Authorized  by  the 
Laws  of  the  Commonwealth  or  the  votes  of  the  Town  to  exer- 
cise —  any  former  Votes  of  the  Town  notwithstanding. 

Votes  for  a  Treasurer  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  brought  in  & 
counted  by  the  Moderator  &  Town  Clerk  when  it  appeared  that 
the  whole  number  was  247  &  that  they  were  all  for  Ebenezer 
Seaver  Esq  a  discreet  and  suitable  person,  &  a  Freeholder  & 
resident  in  said  County. 

Messrs.  William  Clouston  Messrs.  Thomas  Christie 

John  Butterfield      [377.]  William  Green 

Noah  Dogget  Joseph  Stodder 

Edward  Allen  Braddock  Loring 

Benjamin  White  John  Rice 

William  Ellison  Eleazer  Homer 

Naty.  Bradley  Ju'  Allen  Bowker 

William  Ellison  Ju""  Nath^  Glover 

John  Howe  Ju"^ 
were  chosen  surveyors  of  Boards  &  Shingles.  — 

Messrs.  Henry  Purkett 

Mr.  Thomas  Barbour 
Cap'.  Lem^.  Gardner 
James  Uran 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Hoops  &  Staves  for  the  year  ensuing. 


248  City  Document  No.  115. 

Messrs.  Joseph  Doble  Messrs.  Jon^.  Gushing 

Thomas  Barbour  James  Eunson 

Nath^  Howe  John  Smith 

Benj^.  Clark  Dan^.  Cutter 

Gershom  Spear  Charles  Pook 

Ziba  Thayer  Hezek^.  Hudson 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  dry  Fish  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Benjamin  White 

Thomas  Hearsey  Ju''. 
William  Ellison 
were  chosen  Fence -Viewers  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Barney  Connor  Messrs.  Israel  Mead  J''. 

John  Deluce  Joseph  Cobbet 

Rufus  Harrington 
were  chosen  Hogreeves  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Mess  Barney  Conner  Mess  John  Deluce 

Joseph  Cobbet  Rufus  Harrington 

Israel  Mead  Jr. 
were  chosen  Haywards  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Meesrs.  Sam^.  Emmons 
Ja**,  Phillips 
were  chosen  surveyors  of  Hemp  for  the  year  ensuing. 

[378.]         Messrs.  Edw^^.  Tuckerman 
Josiah  Snelling 
were  chosen  surveyors  of  wheat  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  John  Wells 

Rich*^.  Austin 
were  chosen  Assay  Masters  for  the  year  ensuing. 

The  Selectmen 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  High  Ways  for  the  Year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Francis  James 
Silas  Francis 
were  chosen  Inspectors  of  Lime  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Voted,    Joseph  Russell  Esq.,   Sam^   Brown  Esq.    &    William 
Brown  Esq. 

be  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  audit  the  Accounts 
of  the  Town  Treasurer,  &  also  those  of  the  Overseers  of  the 
Poor ;  &  the  Board  of  Health,  and  said  Committee  are  directed 
to  report  the  sum  necessary  to  be  raised  for  the  Services  of  the 
present  year.  — 


Boston  Towjst  Records,  1809.  249 

Voted,  That  the  consideration  of  all  money  matters  be  referred 
to  May  Meeting  —  Also  any  other  matter  which  may  remain 
unfinished  at  this  Meeting.  — 

Jonathan  Chapman  Esq'',  having  resigned  his  seat  as  a 
Selectman  — 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  unto  Him  for 
his  good  &  faithful  services  in  that  office  for  years  past. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  —  viz.  "  To  appoint  Agents  or 
Attornies  with  Powers  to  carry  into  full  [379]  effect  the  Condi- 
tions of  the  Lease  of  the  Old  State  House." — was  read  &  con- 
sidered, Whereupon  Voted  That  the  Selectmen  be  and  they  hereby 
are  q^^ppointed  Agents  &  Attornies  in  behalf  of  the  Town,  with 
full  powers  to  carry  into  complete  effect  the  Conditions  of  the 
Lease  of  the  Old  State  House.  — 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz  ' '  to  adopt  such  measures  as 
may  be  considered  expedient  relative  to  the  Claim  of  Mr.  John 
Leverett  to  part  of  the  Land  on  which  the  Alms  house  stands  " — 
read  &  considered  —  when  it  was  Voted, 

That  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  authorized  to  make  such 
settlement  of  the  claims  of  the  Heirs  of  Mr.  Leverett  to  a  part  of 
the  land  on  which  the  Alms  House  stands  by  compromise  or 
otherwise  as  they  may  find  expedient :  and  that  if  an  extinguish- 
ment of  said  claims  cannot  be  obtained  upon  equitable  terms  & 
the  same  should  be  adjudged  valid  in  Law ;  they  are  hereby 
authorized  to  remove  any  part  of  said  House,  &  repair  the  same 
at  the  expence  of  the  Town. — 

Voted  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  &  hereby  are  given  the 
Moderator  of  this  Meeting,  for  his  good  services  in  dispatching 
the  business  thereof. — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[380.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  of  21  years  of  Age  and  upwards,  qualified  as  the  Con- 
stitution prescribes  &  legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meeting 
Assembled  at  FaneuilHall  on  Monday  the  S**.  Day  of  April  Anno 
Dom.  1809.   [10?]  O'Clock  A.M.— 

Prayer,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Holly. — 

The  Town  Clerk  informed  the  Meeting,  that  all  the  Gentlemen 
chosen  Selectmen   for   the  present  year,  had  agreeable  to  a  late 


250  City  Document  No.  115. 

Act  of  the  General  Court,  qualified  themselves  for  that  office,  by 
taking  the  following  Oath  —  viz.  "  That  they  would  faithfully  & 
impartially  discharge  the  duties  of  that  Office  respecting  all  P^lec- 
tions  &  the  returns  thereof"  which  Oath  was  Administered  to 
them  by  Mr.  Justice  Stevenson,  — 

attest  William  Cooper  Town  Clerk. 

Warrant  for  Calling  the  Meeting.  — read. 

Paragraph  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government  rela- 
tive to  the  choice  of  Governour,  Lieu^  Governours  &  Senators  — 
was  read. — 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  Vote  shall  be 
received,  but  such  as  are  unfolded,  and  that  they  propose  the  poll 
to  be  closed  at  [blank]  O'Clock  P.M.  the  Bells  to  begin  tolling  at 
[blank]  and  to  continue  for  an  hour. — 

[381.]  Persons  Voted  for  as  governour  —  with  the  num- 
ber of  Votes  for  each  person  —  viz.  — 

Votes 
His  Honor  Levi  Lincoln  Esq       -----     1952 

Hon''!.  Christopher  Gore  Esq 2982 

Hon^^  Elbridge  Gerry  Esq 3 

Hon^i.  H.  G.  Otis  Esq 3 

Hon'^i.  T.  Sedgwick  Esq 1 

Hon^^  J.  Parker  Esq 1 

Hon^'.  D.  Cobb  Esq 1 

Cap'.  Thomas  Webb 1 

Hon^.  John  Q.  Adams 1 

Persons  Voted  for  as  lied^.  governour,  with  the  number  of 
Votes  for  each  Person  —  viz. 

Votes 

Hon^i.  David  Cobb  Esq 2994 

Hon^i.  J.  B.  Varnum 1958 

Mr.  Joseph  Noyes 1 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  with 
the  number  of  Votes  for  each  Person  viz. 

Votes 

Hon.  Harrison  G.  Otis  Esq. 2995 

Hon.  WiUiam  Spooner  Esq 2987 

Hon.  John  Phillips  Esq 2996 

Hon.  Peter  C.  Brooks 2998 

John  Welles  Esq 2996 

Hon.  David  Tilden  Esq 1946 

Samuel  Brown  Esq 1946 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq.     -     - 1943 

Edward  Procter  Esq           1944 

Samuel  Clap  Esq 1942 


Boston  Town  Records,  1809.  251 

[383.]    Hon.  John  C.  Jones 5 

William  Sullivan  Esq 5 

Daniel  Sargent  Esq 3 

Hon.  William  Brown  Esq 2 

Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esq 1 

G.  Cabot  1.     Stephen  Codman  Esq.  1. 
John  Lowell  1.     J.  P.  Davis  1. 
Stephen  Higginson  Esq.  1.     T.  H.  Perkins  1. 
C.  Jackson  1.     J.  Q.  Adams  1.     C.  Gore  1. 
E.  Gerry  1.     Jon*^.  Harris  1.     S.  Procter  1. 

Attested  Copies  of  return  of  the  Persons  Voted  for  as  gov- 
ERNOUR  Lieu^  GovERNouR  &  SENATORS  for  the  County  of  Suffolk 
Sealed  up  in  Town  Meeting  after  the  Vote  had  been  declared,  to 
be  transmitted  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  as  pre- 
scribed by  Law  &  directed  as  follows,  viz 

To  Hon^i«.  William  Tudor  Esq. 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  — 

The  number  of  Votes  of  the  Town  of  Boston  for  Governour 
Lieu*'.  Governovir  &  five  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  Cer- 
tified within  &  sealed  up  in  Town  Meeting  after  the  Votes  had 
been  declared.  — 

■    Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[383.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  of  21  years  of  age  &  upwards  qualified  as  the  Consti- 
tution prescribes  and  legally  warned  in  Public  Town  Meeting 
assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  17*^  Day  of  May 
Anno  Domini  1809.     9  O'Clock  A  M. 

The  Meeting  opened  with  Prayer  by  Kev.  Dr.  Eliot. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read. 

That  part  of  the  Constitution   or  Frame  of  Government  which 
relates  to  the  choice  of  Representatives  —  Read 

The  Return  of  the  Assessors  signifying  that  the  Major  & 
Minor  Rateable  Polls  of  this  Town  for  the  Present  year,  were 
8368  — being  also  read  —  The  Inhabitants  were  then  directed  by 
the  Selectmen  to  bring  in  their  Votes  for  Representatives ;  not 
exceeding  37  —  and  that  they  propose  the  Poll  shall  be  closed  at 
^  past  2  oClk  P.M  —  the  Bells  to  begin  tolling  at  ^  past  1 
oClock  &  to  continue  to  the  close  of  the  Poll.  — 

The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  37  Representatives,  upon  sorting 


252  City  Document  No.  115. 

them  it  appeared,   that  the   following   Gentlemen   were  chosen 
having  obtained  a  majority  of  the  Votes  viz.  — 

William  Smith  Francis  Wright 

James  Robinson  Nathan  Webb 

Wilham  Phillips  Jacob  Welsh 

Daniel  Sargent  Ephraim  Thayer 

John  Callender  Warren  Button 

William  Brown  George  G.  Lee 

Jonathan  Hunnewell  Charles  Davis 

Benj^.  Russell  Thomas  Dennie 

Tho®.  W.  Sumner  John  Parker 

Benj^.  Whitman  Eben"".  T.  Andrews 

[384.]   John  T.  Apthorp  Francis  D.  Channing 

William  Hanimatt  Simon  Elliot 

Benj^.  Bussey  William  Sullivan 

Joseph  Head  Daniel  Messinger 

Charles  Jackson  Josiah  Knapp 

William  H.  Sumner  Oliver  Keating 

Benj*.  Weld  Samuel  Cobb 

Joseph  McKean  William  Walter 
David  West 

The  choice  of  Representatives  having  been  declared  by  the 
Selectmen  — 

The  Meeting  was  then  Dissolved. 


[385.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned,  in 
public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday 
the  IS*'^  Day  of  May  A.D.  1809.     10  oClk  A.M. 

Warrant  for  calhng  the  Meeting  —  read. 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 
was  chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote. — 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  withdraw  and  bring  in  their 
Votes  for  6  Trustees  for  Towns  Land  on  the  Neck  in  addition  to 
the  Selectmen  who  conjunctly  are  to  Lease  &  manage  said  lands 
in  such  manner  as  shall  appear  to  them,  to  be  best  for  the  Inter- 
est of  the  Town  —  the  Votes  being  brought  in  and  sorted,  it 
appeared  that  — 

Gen\  .John  Winslow  Hon.  William  Brown  Esq 

Joshua  Davis  .Tun''.  Esq  Hon.  William  Phillips  Esq 

Edward  Tuckerman  Esq  William  Hammatt  Esq 
were  chosen. 


Boston  Towk  Records,  1809. 


253 


On  Motion,  Michael  Homer, 

was  chosen  an  Inspector  of  Lime,  in  addition  to  the  two  chosen 
in  March. 

John  Smith 

a  surveyor  of  Hoops  &  Staves  in  addition. 

[386.]  The  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz.  "To  consider  the 
expediency  of  repealing  the  By  Law  of  the  Town  which  dii'ects 
that  Bulls  should  be  kept  on  the  Common" —  read  &  considered 
—  &  thereupon  Ordered^  that  the  Selectmen  shall  cause  two  or 
more  Bulls  to  be  provided  &  kept  in  such  Stable  yard  or  other 
inclosed  place  as  they  shall  judge  convenient ;  and  shall  appoint 
some  suitable  person  to  have  the  care,  management  and  main- 
tenance of  them,  and  such  person  shall  receive  Annually  from 
the  owner  of  each  Cow  kept  in  the  Town  the  sum  of  One  Dollar. — 

The  Subscribers  a  Committee  chosen  by  the  Town  March  13*^ 
1809.  to  audit  the  Accounts  of  the  Town  Treasurer,  Overseers  of 
the  Poor,  Board  of  health  &c  &c  — And  to  repoi-t  the  sum  neces- 
sary to  be  raised  for  the  present  year,  having  attended  that 
service  ask  leave  to  Report  — 

They  have  examined  the  Accounts  of  the  several  Departments, 
&  find  them  right  cast  &  well  Vouched  — 

The  Treasurer  as  follows  — 


To  Notes  Receivable 

381.50 

By  Notes  for  Money  j 
Borrowed  -     -     -  J 

To  due  on  Tax  1803 

770.93 

ToD°.     -     -     1804 

2965.72 

By  State  Tax    -     -        2299.  5 

To  D**       -     -     1805 

4827.16 

By  County  Tax  -     -        9793.40 

To  D°       -     -     1806 

10951.99 

%''ebtr"'^'"'          }  1^*28.19 

To  D°       -     -     1807 

15869.60 

ToD°.      -     -     1808 

33011.53 

By  Mr  Tukesbury  -     -      74.15 

To  T.Treasurer  bal 

By  Trustees  of  Neck     -      92.16 

his  %  -    ,-    -     - 

20063.28 

To  Cash  on  hand  17 

$89,043.53 

May     -     -     -     - 

201.82 

189043.53 

[387.]  The  Abatement  on  several  of  the  Taxes  have  not 
been  made,  when  they  are,  they  will  be  deducted  from  the  several 
sums  due  for  Taxes,  these  Accounts  were  made  up  to  May  1®' 
since  which  the  Treasurer  has  received  a  considerable  amount  & 
paid  it  away  to  discharge  the  balance  due  from  the  Town. — 


The  Committee  Report  an   Estimate  for  the  present  year  as 
follows. — 


254  City  Document  No.  115. 

School  Masters  &  Ushers 13,300 

Eepairs  of  Schools  &  Wood 1,100 

Town  Watch     -     - 6,500 

Town  Treasurers  Salary 1,500 

Three  Assessors — 816  each 2,450 

Town  Clerk 1,000 

Police  Officers -     -  1,100 

Constables  Services 500 

Paving  Streets 10,000 

Judge  of  Municipal  Court 750 

Messenger  of  Selectmen --  300 

Door  Keeper 100 

Engine  Eepairs  &  premiums 600 

Lamps  &  Lighting 7,000 

Printing  &  Stationery      -- 400 

Incidental  Charges 2,000 

Bells  &  Clock 400 

49,000 

For  Overseers  of  the  Poor -     -  20,000 

For  the  Board  of  Health 5,000 


DoP.   74,000 

From  the  above  statement  your  Committee  are  of  Opinion  that 
the  Town  should  raise  $70,000,  to  defrey  the  Expences  of  the 
present  year  —  all  which  is  submitted  — 

Jos.  Russell  P''.  order. 

[388.]  The  aforegoing  Report  having  been  read  and  consid- 
ered, was  accepted  by  the  Town  —  whereupon 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  Seventy  thousand  Dollars  be  raised  by 
a  Tax  to  be  assessed  on  the  Polls  and  Estates  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  to  defray  the  Expences  of  the  Town  the  Current 
year.  — 

Voted,  That  the  Sum  of  Seven  hundred  &  fifty  Doll^.  be  allowed 
&  paid  unto  the  Hon.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq  for  his  Salary  as 
Judge  of  the  Municipal  Court  the  present  year.  — 

Voted,  That  the  sum  of  Fifteen  hundred  Dollars,  be  allowed  & 
paid  unto  William  Smith  Esq  as  Treasurer  &  Collector  of  Taxes 
the  present  year  —  he  to  pay  his  Clerk,  Assistant,  Office  hire  & 
all  other  expence  of  Office. 

Voted,  That  the  Sum  of  One  Thousand  Dollars,  be  Allowed  & 
paid  unto  William  Cooper  for  his  Salary  as  Town  Clerk  the 
year  ensuing.  — 

Voted,  That  the  sum  of  Eight  hundred  &  Sixteen  Dollars,  be 


Boston  Town  Recoeds,  1809.  255 

allowed  &  paid  unto  each  of  the  three  Assessors    for  their  ser- 
vices in  that  office  the  year  ensuing. 

Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  publish  the  Expence  of  the  year  as 
usual.  — 

The  article  in  the  Warrant  Viz*.  "  To  consider  the  application 
of  the  Justices  of  the  Court  of  Sessions  that  the  Town  would  grant 
a  piece  of  Land  back  of  the  School  House  in  School  Street,  to 
build  a  New  Court  house  upon  —  was  read  &  considered —  Where- 
upon 

[389.]  Voted,  That  the  Memorial  from  the  Court  of  Sessions 
be  referred  to  the  Selectmen,  and  that  they  be  authorized  if  they 
think  it  for  the  Interest  of  the  Town,  to  convey  any  portion  of 
the  Towns  Land  mentioned  in  said  Memorial  upon  such  condi- 
tions as  they  shall  think  proper. 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz  "  To  ratify  the  proceedings  of 
the  Selectmen  relative  to  Mill  Pond,  and  to  grant  such  further 
Powers  as  may  be  necessary  to  open  &  connect  the  new  Streets 
en  the  Pond  "  was  read,  as  also  the  Communication  of  the  Select- 
men on  the  same  subject,  which  being  approved  of  &  accepted 
by  the  Town  —  it  was  Voted, 

That  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  empowered  by  the  Town, 
to  exchange  such  portion  of  the  Towns  part  of  the  Lands  in  the 
Mill  Pond  as  may  be  necessary  and  expedient  in  their  opinion, 
to  open  and  widen  the  Avenues  to  the  new  Streets  in  the  Pond.  — 

On  Motion  Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to 
Joseph  Russell  Esq  for  his  good  services  as  Moderator  in  for- 
warding the  business  of  the  Meeting.  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[390.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  in  pubUc  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  4*^  Day  of 
July  A  :D  :  1809.  —  9  oClock  A.M.  — 

William  Cooper  —  Chosen  Moderator. — 

The  Committee  appointed  the  last  Year  to  made  choice  of  a 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  Indepen- 
dence— 

Reported  That  they  had  chosen  William  Tudor  Jun''.  Esq.  who 
has  accepted  of  the  appointment.  — 


256  City  Document  No.  115. 


AN    ORATION 

to    commemorate    the   Independence    of   the  United    States  was 
delivered  by  William  Tudor  Jur.  Esq. 

On  Motion  voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  wait 
on  William  Tudor  J''.  Esq  &  in  the  Name  of  the  Town  to  thank 
him  for  his  elegant  and  Spirited  Oration  this  Day  dehvered  by 
him  at  the  request  of  the  Town,  upon  the  anniversary  of  the 
Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America,  in  which  accord- 
ing to  the  instruction  of  the  Town  the  feelings  and  principles 
which  led  to  that  great  National  event  —  and  to  request  of  him 
a  Copy  thereof  for  the  Press.  — 

On  Motion  voted  that  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  be  and  hereby 
are  appointed  a  Committee  to  apply  to  some  able  &  learned 
[391]  Gentleman  to  deUver  an  Oration  the  4*^^  of  July  1810.  — 
That  Day  being  the  Anniversary  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America  ;  wherein  the  Orator  is  to  consider  the 
feelings  manners  &  principles  which  led  to  this  great  National 
Event ;  as  well  as  the  important  and  happy  Effects,  whether 
General  or  Domestic,  which  have  already,  or  wiU  forever  flow 
from  that  Auspicious  Epoch. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[393.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  &  legally  Warned  in 
Public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday 
the  2**.  Day  of  August  A.  D.  1809  — 10  oClock 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read. 

Daniel  Sargent  Esq  was  chosen  Moderator,  by  a  hand  Vote. — 

Agreably  to  the  Notification  in  the  Warrant  for  calling  this 
Meeting,  the  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  "  bring  in  their  Votes 
for  a  suitable  Person  to  appear  as  an  Advocate  in  the  Municipal 
Court  &  to  conduct  the  prosecutions  therein." — the  Votes  being 
accordingly  brought  in  &  sorted,  it  appeared  that  Peter  Thacher 
Esq  —  was  chosen  Town  Advocate. — 

The  other  Article  in  the  Warrant  Viz.  "To  consider  the 
expediency  of  encouraging  the  continuation  of  Front-Street,  from 
its  present  termination  at  the  South  Bridge,  to  the  end  of  the 
JBrush  Hill  Turnpike^  near  the  Roxbury  Canal,  by  a  grant  to 
the  undertakers  of  part  of  the  land  on  the  Neck,  which  will 
border  on  said  Street." — was  read  &  debated  whereupon  it  was 


Boston  Town  Records,  1809.  257 

moved,  &  Voted,  that  a  Committee  of  seven  persons  be  chosen  to 
investigate  &  consider  this  matter  and  make  Eeport  —  thereon 
at  some  fm-ther  Meeting. — 

The  Votes  being  accordingly  brought  in,  it  appeared  that  the 
following  Gentlemen  were  chosen  a  Committee  for  this  business. 
viz. 

[393.]   William  Parsons  Esq.  John  Joy 

Judge  Davis  Cap*  Barnard 

Bedford  Webster  Hon.  John  Phillips  Esq. 

Mr  William  Hammatt 

On  Motion  Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  and  hereby 
are  given  to  Daniel  Sargent  Esq  for  his  good  services  as  Moder- 
ator of  the  Meeting. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[394.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  &  legally  Warned  in 
Public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday 
the  6*^  day  of  November  1809.  10  O'Clock  A.  M. 

Warrant  for  calhng  the  Meeting  —  read. 

Joseph  Russell  Esq. 
chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote. — 

Report  of  the  Committee  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read. 

Also  the  proposals  of  the  Selectmen. — 

Whereupon  Voted,  that  the  Board  of  Health  be  a  Committee  to 
consider  the  situation  of  the  North  Burying  Ground —  &  also  the 
expediency  of  enlarging  said  Ground  by  the  purchase  of  Land 
adjoining,  or  of  opening  the  Granary  Burying  Ground  for  use  of 
Graves  or  new  Tombs. — 

Also,  that  they  be  requested  to  consider  &  recommend  suitable 
places  where  Wharves  may  be  erected  for  a  removal  of  nuismices, 
&  to  suggest  any  other  mode  which  can  be  adopted  for  that  pur- 
pose —  to  Report  at  the  Adjournment. — 

Voted,  that  the  Town  Advocate  be  directed  to  enquire  into  the 
title  of  the  Town  to  Snow  Hill  Street,  &  to  prosecute  all  tres- 
passers on  the  Towns  Land  in  that  quarter  —  to  report  at  the 
Adjournment. — 


258  City  Document  No.  115. 

Report  of  Committee  relative  to  a  new  Road,  read  —  where- 
upon Moved  and  [395]  Voted,  that  the  report  be  printed  in 
Hand  Bills  for  the  Consideration  of  the  Inhabitants  and  that  it 
be  referred  for  consideration  &c  to  March  Meeting  —  then  to  be 
acted  upon. — 

On  the  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz  "  to  appoint  an  Agent  or 
Agents  to  nominate  appraisers  &  to  receive  possession  of  any 
Real  Estate  which  may  be  now  or  any  time  hereafter  set  off  on 
execution  in  favour  of  the  Town  "  — being  read  —  it  was  moved 
&  Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be  &  hereby  are  appointed  &  em- 
powered, Agents  for  said  purpose. 

Adjourned  to  Monday  next  10  "'Clock  A.M.  being  the  IS*"^  of 
Nov.  10  O'clock  A.M. 

Nov'.  13.  The  Town  met  agreeably  to  Adjournment. 

The  Moderator  informed  the  Inhabitants  that  the  Town  Clerk  was 
unable  to  attend  at  this  Meeting,  being  confined  to  his  house  by 
sickness  ;  whereupon  it  was  moved  and  Voted  to  choose  a  Clerk 
pro  tempore :  a  Nomination  being  called  for,  &  the  question 
taken,  Charles  Bulfinch  Esq  was  declared  to  be  chosen. 

The  Board  of  Health,  who  were  chosen  a  Committee  to  consider 
the  subject  of  the  burying  grounds,  and  the  mode  for  future  re- 
moval of  nuisances  by  Night  carts ;  handed  in  their  Report, 
which  was  read  &  explained  by  some  members  of  the  Committee ; 
when  it  was  moved  &  Voted. 

That  the  report  [396]  be 
recommitted  for  revision,  that  it  be  afterwards  printed  in  hand 
bills  and  distributed  to  the  Inhabitants. 

That  the  Selectmen  be  directed  to  call  a  new  Meeting  as  soon  as 
convenient  after  the  publication  of  the  Report ;  and  insert  the 
particular  articles  to  be  acted  upon  in  the  Warrant  for  calling 
the  Meeting. — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  dissolved. 


[397.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in 
Public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday 
the  13  day  of  December  1809.     10  O'Clock  A.M. 

Warrant  for  the  Meeting  was  —  read  — 

Nomination  for  Moderator  was  called  for. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1809.  259 

Stephen  Codman  Esq 
was  chosen,  but  not  being  present  a  new  nomination  was  called 
for,  and 

Samuel  Parkraan  Esq  was  chosen  :  — 
he  not  being  present,  David  Tilden  Esq  was  chosen  and  Accepted. 

The  Inhabitants  were  desired  to  bring  in  their  Votes  for  a 
Toion  ClerJc,  &  it  was  Voted,  to  close  the  poll  at  12  O'Clock. 

The  Votes,  being  counted,  it  appeared  that  the  whole  number 
was  1587  and  that  794  was  necessary  for  a  choice. 

That  Charles  Bulfinch  Esq  had  108 

Joseph  Russell  Esq  672 

Cap*.  Thomas  Clark  789  and  that  no  person  had  a  ma- 

jority of  votes ;  whereupon  Voted,  To  adjourn  the  Meeting  for 
choice  of  Town  Clerk,  untill  tomorrow  14**^  at  10  O'Clock.  — 

[398.]     Thursday  Dec^  U*''  10  O'Clock  A.M. 

The  Town  met  according  to  Adjournment.  — 

The  Inhabitants  were  desired  to  bring  in  their  Votes  for  Town 
ClerJc;  and  it  was  declared  that  the  Poll  should  close  at  12 
O'clock.— 

The  Votes  having  been  counted,  it  appeared  that  the  whole 
number  of  Votes  was  2696.  — 

That  1349  was  necessary  for  a  choice.  — 
That  Joseph  Russell  Esq  had  1017. 
Cap*.  Thomas  Clark  had  1676. 
Scattering  Votes     -     3. 

Cap*.  Thomas  Clark  was  declared  to  be  chosen ;  he  was  notified 
of  the  choice  by  attested  Copy  of  the  Vote ;  &  signified  his 
acceptance  of  the  office,  in  writing,  and  having  appeared,  the 
Oath  of  Office  was  administered  to  him  by  the  Moderator  David 
Tilden  Esq.  Justice  of  the  peace. 

Attest  Charles  Bulfinch 

Town  Clerk  pro  Tempore. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  consisting  of  the  Board  of  Health, 
which  has  been  printed  for  information  then  read.  — 

A  Motion  was  made  to  strike  out  the  first  section  of  the  Report, 
wliich  authorized  the  purchase  of  Land,  which  being  put,  it 
passed  nearly  Unanimously  in  the  Negative. — 

A  Motion  was  then  made  to  fill  the  blanks  in  the  Report  with 
the  name  of  the  Board  of  Health,  &  that  the  report  should  then 
be  accepted  —  which  being  debated  passed  in  the  Affirmative.  — 


260  City  Document  No.  115. 

[399.]  Voted,  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be  directed  to  give 
his  Notes  to  Benjamin  Weld  Esq.,  for  the  amount  of  the  pur- 
chase of  Land  Adjoining  the  North  Burying  ground  —  unless 
there  be  sufficient  Money  in  the  Treasury  to  pay  the  same.  — 

on  Motion  Voted,  that  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  given 
to  Benjamin  Weld  Esq.  for  his  Liberality  in  Offering  to  relin- 
quish his  purchase  of  Land  Adjoining  the  North  Burying 
Ground  for  the  use  of  the  Town  at  the  cost. 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the  Modera- 
tor for  his  good  services.  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[400.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned  in 
public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday 
the  12"^  day  of  March  Anno  Domini  1810.  10  O'Clock  A.  M. 

Prayer  made  by  Rev.  Doct  Lathrop.  — 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read  — 

Hon  John  Phillips  Esq. 
chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote.  — 

Extract  of  Laws  read.  — 

Thomas  Clark 
was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  year  ensuing,  &  took  the  Oath  of 
Office,  which  was  Administered  to  Him  by  John  Phillips  Esq. 

Votes  having  been  brought  in  for  nine  Selectmen,  counted  & 
sorted,  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen, 
viz. 

Charles  Bulfinch  William  Porter 

Ebenezer  Oliver  Jon^.  Hunnewell 

John  May  Francis  Wright 

Nathan  Webb  Joseph  Foster  & 

Benjamin  Weld  Esquire.  — 

The  Votes  for  a  Town  Treasurer  &  Collector  of  Taxes  for  the 
present  year  being  brought  in  &  sorted,  it  appeared  that 

William  Smith  Esq  was  chosen. 

[401.]  The  Votes  being  brought  in  for  Overseers  of  the 
Poor,  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen  viz. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1810. 


261 


Edward  Procter,  Esq. 
William  Smith  Esq. 
Bedford  Webster.  Esq 
Mr.  Sam^  Snelling 
Mr.  WilF.  Mackay 
Mr.  Joseph  Richards 

Thomas  Melvill  Esq. 
And^  Cunningham  Esq. 
John  Winslow  Esq 
John  Bray  Esq 
8imon  Elliot  Esq 
Dan^  Messinger  Esq 
Joshua  Davis  Esq. 
Mr  Benj'^.  Coates 
Mr  Ignatius  Sargent 
Mr  Edw-i.  Crufts 
Bryant  P.  Tilden  Esq. 
Mr  Nathan  Webb 
were  chosen  Fire  Wards  for  the  year 


Henry  Hill  Esq. 
William  Phillips  Esq 
Thomas  Perkins  Esq. 
Cap*.  Ozias  Goodwin 
Jos.  Coolidge  Jun'".  Esq 
Bryt.  P.  Tilden  Esq. 

Joseph  May  Esq 
Jos.  Head  Esq 
Step".  Codman  Esq 
Cap*.  Tho®  Dennie 
Jon*.  Hunnewell  Esq. 
Mr.  Tho^  Curtis 
Mr.  Benj^.  Smith 
William  Sullivan  Esq 
Mr  Sam^  Swett 
Ja*.  Phillips  Esq 
Mr  Nathi.  Curtis 
Geo.  Blanehard  Esq 
ensuino-. 


The  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Perkins  &  Cap*.  Barker  Baker,  having 
declined  serving  as  fire  Wards  the  ensuing  year. 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  The  Hon. 
Thomas  H.  Perkins  &  Cap*.  Barker  Baker,  for  their  faithful 
services  as  Fire  Wards  for  several  years  past. — 

[403.]  Voted,  that  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  twelve  per- 
sons shall  now  be  chosen  a  School  Committee^  &  the  Votes  being 
brought  in  and  sorted,  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen 
were  chosen,  viz. 


Rev.  Dr.  Kirkland 
Rev.  W™  E.  Channing 
Dr.  Tho^  Welsh 
Arnold  Welles  Esq 
Hon  W"  Prescott  Esq 
John  Heard  Jun''.  Esq 


Rev.  W™  Emmerson 
Dr.  Aaron  Dexter 
David  Greene  Esq 
William  Smith  Esq 
Hon.  John  Phillips  Esq. 
Charles  Davis  Esq. 


Voted,  that  the  above  named  Gentlemen  who  conjunctly  with 
the  Selectmen,  are  termed  the  School  Committee,  be  and  hereby 
are  directed  to  carry  the  system  of  Education  Adoj)ted  by  the 
Town  into  operation  :  and  that  the  said  Committee  be  Author- 
ized &  empowered  conjunctly  to  manage  &  regulate  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  Schools  :  &  to  execute  all  the  powers  relative  to  the 
Schools  &  School  Masters  which  the  Selectmen  or  such 
Committees  are  Authorized  by  the  laws  of  the  Commonwealth  or 
by  the  Votes  of  the  Town  to  exercise. — 


Voted  Unanimously,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to 


262  City  Document  No.  115. 

the  Hon.  John  Davis  Esq,  for  his  faithful  services,  as  one  of  the 
School  Committee  for  several  years  past. — 

Votes  for  a  Treasurer  of  the  County  of  Suffolk  brought  in  & 
counted  by  the  Moderator  &  Town  Clerk,  when  it  appeared  that 
the  whole  number  [403]  was,  three  hundred  &  Eighty  one  &  that 
Ebenezer  Seaver  Esq  a  discreet  &  suitable  person  a  Freeholder  & 
resident  in  said  County,  had  302  Votes  and  William  Smith  Esq 
had  79  Votes. 

Messrs.  Benjamin  White 

William  Ellison 

John  Buttertield 

Noah  Doggett 

Edward  Alline 

"William  Greene 

Joseph  Stodder 

W"  Ellison  Jun'^ 

John  Rice 

Rich'^.  Thayer 

John  Cogswell 

William  Clouston 

Nathi.  Bradley  Jun"". 

Braddock  Loring 

Thomas  Christie 

Eleazer  Homer 

Allen  Bowker 

Nath^  Glover 

John  Howe  Jun"^. 

Ed.  J  Robbins 

were  chosen  surveyors  of  Boards  &  Shingles. 

Peter  Thacher  Esq.—  was  chosen  Town  Advocate  for  the  year 
ensuing. 

Adjourned  to  3  O 'Clock  P.  M.— 

The  Town  met  according  to  Adjournment. 

Henry  Purkett  Esq.*'  Messrs.  Nath^  Howe,  John  Smith  & 
James  Eunson,  were  chosen  Cullers  of  Hoops  &  Staves  for  the 
year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Thomas  Barber,  Nath.  Howe,  Hezekiah  Hudson, 
James  Eunson,  John  Smith,  Benj^.  Clark,  Gershom  Spear, 
Charles  Pook  &  John  Singleton,  were  chosen  cullers  of  dry  fish 
for  the  year  ensuing. — 

[404.]  Messrs.  Benjamin  White,  Tho^  Hearsey  &  William 
Ellison,  were  chosen  Fence  Viewers  for  the  year  ensuing. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1810.  263 

Messrs.  Barney  Connor,  John  Deluce,  Joseph  Cobbett,  Rufus 
Harrington  &  Israel  Mead  Jr.  were  chosen  Hogreeves  for  the 
year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Barney  Connor,  Joseph  Cobbett,  John  Deluce,  Rufus 
Harrington  &  Israel  Mead  Ju"".  were  chosen  Haywards  for  the 
year  ensuing. 

Mr.  Samuel  Emmons  &  James  Phillips  Esq.  were  chosen  Sur- 
veyors of  Hemp,  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Edward  Tuckerman  &  Josiah  Snelling  Esquires,  were  chosen 
Surveyors  of  Wheat  for  the  year  ensuing. — 

Messrs.  John  Wells  &  Richard  Austin  were  chosen  Assay 
Masters  for  the  year  ensuing. — 

The  Selectmen  were  chosen  Surveyors  of  High  Ways,  for  the 
year  ensuing. — 

Messrs.  Francis  James,  Silas  Francis  &  Cap*.  Michael  Homer, 
were  chosen  Inspectors  of  Lime  for  the  year  ensuing. — 

Voted,  That  Joseph  Russell 

Samuel  Brown  & 
William  Brown  Esquires 

[405]  be  and  they  hereby  are  Appointed  a  Committee  to  audit 
the  Accoimts  of  the  Town  Treasurer,  and  also  those  of  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  &  the  Board  of  Health.  And  said  Com- 
mittee are  directed  to  report  the  sum  necessary  to  be  raised  for 
the  services  of  the  present  year. — 

Voted,  That  the  consideration  of  all  money  matters,  be  referred 
to  next  May  Meeting. 

Voted,  That  the  Auditors  of  Accounts,  be  requested  in  their 
Exhibit,  to  make  a  Statement  of  the  debts  &  income  of  the  Town, 
&  report  the  same  at  the  next  May  Meeting. — 

Voted,  That  the  Auditors  of  Accounts  together  with  the  Hon. 
John  Phillips  Esq.  Hon.  Benjam".  Austin  &  John  Welles 
Esquires,  be  requested  to  take  into  consideration  the  resources  of 
the  Town,  and  devise  a  mode  for  speedily  discharging  the  Towns 
debts  :  also  to  consider  if  any  improvement  can  be  made  in  the 
present  system  to  secure  a  more  prompt  collection  of  Taxes. — 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz.  "To  consider  the  request  of 
the  heirs  of  the  late  Governour  Hancock,  that  the  Town  will  agree 
with  them  in  such  a  disposition  of  their  Estate  on  Beacon  Hill, 
either  by  sale  or  exchange  of  the  Towns  land,  or  by  a  purchase  of 


264  City  Document  No.  115. 

the  land  of  the  heirs  as  may  be  for  the  interest  of  both  parties." 
was  read  —  whereupon  — 

Voted,  That  the  same  be  Committed  to  the  [406]  Selectmen, 
to  report  their  opinion  of  the  best  mode  of  disposing  of  the 
Town's  land  on  Beacon  Hill,  and  Report  at  the  May  Meeting. 

Voted  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the  Hon. 
John  Phillips  Esq.  for  his  services  as  Moderator  of  this  Meeting. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[40*7.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  of  twenty  one  years  of  age  &  upwards  qualified  as  the 
Constitution  prescribes  and  Legally  warned  in  public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  2*^.  Day  of 
April  Anno  Domini  1810.—  9  O'Clock  A.M.— 

Prayer  by  Rev.  Doct.  Eckley.  — 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read.  — 

Paragraphs  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government,  rela- 
tive to  the  choice  of  Grovernour  Lieutenant  Governour  & 
Senators,  were  read. — Also,  an  extract  from  a  Law  of  the 
Commonwealth,  dividing  the  State  into  Districts  for  the  choice  of 
Counsellors  &  Senators  —  was  read. — 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen,  that  no  Vote  shall  be 
received,  but  such  as  are  unfolded  —  that  the  Poll  shall  be  closed 
at  half  past  2  O'Clock  P.M.  and  that  the  Bells  begin  tolling  at 
2  O'clock  &  continue  for  half  an  hour. — 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Governour,  with  the  Number  of  Votes 
for  each  Person  —  viz. 

His  Excy.  Christopher  Gore  Esq 3076 

Hon^i.  Elbridge  Gerry  Esq 2211 

Hon  Theodore  Sedgwick  Esq --  1 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Lieutenant  Governour,  with  the  num- 
ber of  Votes  for  each  Person 

[408]     viz.    His  Honour  David  Cobb  Esq.       -     -     -     -     3079 
Hon  William  Gray  Esq 2208 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  with 
the  number  of  Votes  for  each  Person  viz. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1810.  265 

Hon.  Harrison  G.  Otis  Esq. 3079 

Hon.  John  Phillips  Esq 3079 

Hon.  William  Spooner 3077 

Hon.  Peter  C.  Brooks  Esq 3078 

Hon.  John  Welles  Esq. 3079 

Hon.  David  Tilden  Esq. 2199 

Samuel  Brown  Esq. 2198 

Edward  Proctor  Esq. 2199 

Eussell  Sturgis  Esq. 2200 

Caleb  Bingham  Esq -  2199 

William  Sullivan  Esq  1.     David  Townsend  Esq       -     -     -  1 

Attested  Copies  or  return  of  the  persons  Voted  for  as  Gover- 
nour,  Lieutenant  Governour  and  Senators  for  the  County  of 
Suffolk,  sealed  op  in  Town  Meeting  after  the  Vote  had  been  de- 
clared, to  be  transmitted  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth 
as  prescribed  by  Law  &  directed  as  follows  — viz. — 
To  WiUiam  Tudor  Esq  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts.  —  Votes  of  the  Town  of  Boston  for  Governour, 
Lieu*.  Governour  &  Five  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk, 
sealed  up  in  open  Town  Meeting. — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. — 


[409.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  of  21  years  of  age  &  upwards,  qualified  as  the  Con- 
stitution prescribed  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meeting- 
Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  16*^**.  Day  of 
May  A.D.  1810  —  9  O'Clock  A.M.— 

The  Meeting  opened  with  Prayer,  by  the  Rev.  Doct  — 
Baldwin. — 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  read.  — 

That  part  of  the  Constitution  or  frame  of  Government  which 
relates  to  the  choice  of  Representatives  —  read.  — 

The  return  of  the  Assessors  signifying  that  the  Major  &  minor 
rateable  Polls  of  this  Town  for  the  present  year  were  9557  — 
being  also  read  — 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  by  the  Selectmen  to  bring  in  their 
Votes,  for  Representatives ;  not  exceeding  42  —  &  that  they 
propose  the  Poll  shall  be  closed  at  2  O'Clock  —  the  Bells  to 
commence  tolling  at  half  past  1  O'Clock  P.M.  — 

The  Votes  being  brought  in,  sorted  &  counted,  it  appeared  at 


266  City  Document  No.  115. 

the  close  of  the  Poll,  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  elected 
Representatives  for  the  year  ensuing  —  viz 

William  Smith  Samael  Cobb 

William  Brown  Jon*.  Hunnewell 

William  Sullivan  William  Philips 

Francis  Wright  Benja  Russell 

Daniel  Sargent  Thos®.  W.  Sumner 

[410.]     John  Callender  Benjamin  Whitman 

Charles  Davis  James  Robinson 

Jacob  Welsh  William  Hammatt 

John  Parker  Eben"".  T.  Andrews 

Francis  D.  Channing  William  H.  Sumner 

Ephraim  Thayer  Josiah  Knapp 

Benjamin  Weld  Oliver  Keating 

Nathan  Webb  Dan\  Messinger 

W"  Walter  Warren  Dutton 

George  G.  Lee  Isaac  P.  Davis 

Thomas  Danforth  William  Tudor  Jun"". 

Elisha  Sigourney  John  Winslow 

George  Blanchard  Sam^  M.  Thayer 

Gamaliel  Bradford  John  May 

William  Porter  John  Wells 

Nathaniel  Curtis  John  Chandler 

Declaration  of  the  Choice  was  then  made,  &  the  Meeting  was 
Dissolved.  — 


[411.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned,  in  public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the  17**^. 
Day  of  May  A. D.  1810  —  10  O'Clock  A.M. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read  — 

Hon.  William  Brown  Esq. 
chosen  Moderator  by  a  hand  Vote.  — 

Thomas  Dennie  &  Simon  Elliot  Esquires  having  resigned  the 
office  of  Fire  Wards  —  James  Robinson  &  Samuel  M.  Thayer 
Esquires  were  chosen  Fire  Wards  for  the  year  ensuing  in  their 
Stead.  — 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Thomas 
Dennie  &  Simon  Elliot  Esquires  for  their  faithful  services  as 
Firewards  for  a  number  of  years  past. 

Mr  Henry  Blake  was  chosen  a  surveyor  of  Boards  &  Shingles, 
in  place  of  a  surveyor  of  Lumber  deceased. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1810.  267 

The  Committee  appointed  at  a  Meeting  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
on  the  2*^  day  of  August  last  "to  consider  the  expediency  of 
encom'aging  the  continuation  of  Front-Street,  from  its  present 
termination  at  the  South-Bridge,  to  the  end  of  the  Brush-hill 
Turnpike,  near  the  Roxbury  Canal,  by  a  grant  to  the  undertakers 
of  part  of  the  land  on  the  Neck,  which  will  border  on  said  Street," 
have  attended  to  the  duty  Assigned  to  them,  &  Report  as  follows  : 

[413.]  They  find  that  on  the  li*"^  day  of  June  A. D.  1806, 
by  an  act  to  establish  the  second  Brush-hill  Turnpike  Corpora- 
tion, authority  was  given  by  the  Legislature,  so  to  extend  the 
Brush-hill  Turnpike,  as  would  effect  the  Junction  thereof  with  the 
southern  termination  of  Front-Street, —  No  measures,  however, 
have  been  pursued  to  carry  this  enterprize  into  operation  ;  prob- 
ably on  account  of  the  heavy  expences  necessarily  incident  to 
the  undertaking,  &  to  the  precarious  prospect  of  remuneration  to 
those  who  should  make  the  requisite  advances. — 

The  plan  accompanying  this  Report  will  exhibit,  with  sufficient 
precision,  the  course  of  the  intended  road ;  and  the  Committee 
are  fully  convinced,  that  such  an  extension  of  Front- Street  would 
be  very  advantageous  to  the  Town. —  Besides  the  obvious  benefit 
&  convenience  of  another  avenue,  in  that  direction,  it  appears 
evident  that  the  Town's  land  on  the  Neck,  would  be  increased  in 
value,  and  the  Town  would  be  relieved  from  the  expence  of  sup- 
porting a  dyke,  which  it  is  now  necessary  to  maintain,  between 
the  present  road  &  the  Shore. — 

The  distance  from  the  end  of  Front-Street  to  the  Towns  Marsh, 
in  a  direct  line  over  the  flats,  is  one  hundred  &  sixty  nine 
rods. — 

The  expence  of  making  the  road  over  this  extent,  according  to 
an  estimate  exhibited  to  the  Committee,  which  they  believe  to  be 
correct,  would  be  42392  dollars  80  Cents.  From  the  flats  to 
Roxbury  landing  place,  the  distance  is  [413]  121  rods,  and  the 
computed  expence  of  making  the  road  over  this  distance,  includ- 
ing bridges  is  $8535.20.  the  aggregate  expence  amounting  to 
50,928  dollars.— 

This  estimate  has  been  formed  from  the  actual  expence  of  Front- 
Street 

From  a  view  of  the  whole  subject,  of  the  obvious  benefit  to  the 
Town  of  Boston  from  the  proposed  improvement,  of  the  heavy 
expence  at  which  it  must  be  accomplished  ;  and  of  the  uncertainty 
of  reimbursement  to  the  undertakers ;  or  of  a  suitable  interest  for 
their  expenditures,  the  Committee  consider  it  reasonable  &  expe- 
dient for  the  Town,  to  offer  the  following  inducements  to  those 
Gentlemen  who  may  within  a  reasonable  time,  procure  the  con- 
templated road  to  be  completed.  — 

1^'.  Liberty  to  make  the  road  over  the  Towns  land,  free  of 
compensation  to  the  Town,  for  such  portion  of  their  land  as  may 
be  necessarily  occupied  by  said  road. 

2*^.  A  grant  of  the  Marsh  &  flats  belonging  to  the  Town,  eastward 
of  the  road  &  between  the  same  &  the  Channel. 


268  City  Document  No.  115. 

3"^.  A  grant  of  one  half  of  the  Towns  land  on  the  western  side  of 
the  proposed  road,  to  the  extent  of  150  feet  from  said  road,  to 
be  assigned  to  the  undertakers,  in  alternate  lots  :  the  whole  land 
comprehended  between  the  westerly  side  of  the  road  and  a  line 
parallel  thereto,  at  150  feet  distance  [414]  (excepting  what 
may  be  reserved  for  Streets)  being  first  laid  out  in  convenient 
lots  by  mutual  arrangement  between  the  undertakers  &  the 
Selectmen,  or  other  Agents  of  the  Town. — 

The  above  grants  to  be  gratuitous,  but  comprizing  however, 
these  conditions ;  that  the  road  be  completed  within  three  years 
from  this  date ;  — that  it  be  in  every  respect  conformable  to  the 
requirements  of  the  act  above  mentioned,  or  to  the  acceptance  of 
the  Selectmen ;  that  Streets  be  reserved  of  such  number ;  width  & 
direction,  on  the  western  side  of  said  road  as  are  delineated  on 
the  plan  accompanying  this  Eeport,  or  of  such  other  description 
as  may  be  satisfactory  to  the  Town  or  its  properlj^  authorized 
officers  :  that  the  space  of  ten  feet  on  each  side  of  said  road  shall 
forever  remain  unincumbered  with  buildings,  as  by  agreement 
respecting  the  Front  Street,  subject  only  to  like  exceptions  as 
expressed  in  that  agreement,  so  that  the  part  of  said  road,  which 
may  fall  within  the  Town  of  Boston,  shall  correspond  in  width 
with  Front  Street. 

Signed,  (Boston  Nov.  6"\  1809)  William  Parsons 

Tristam  Barnard 
John   Davis,   John   Joy,  Redford  Webster,  William    Hammatt, 
John  PhilliiDS  —  Committee. 

The  foregoing  Report  having  been  read,  a  Motion  was  made  to 
accept  the  Report  of  the  Committee  ;  which  after  being  debated, 
&  some  explanations  given  by  the  Moderator  —  it  passed  in  the 
Affirmative. — 

[415.]  The  Report  of  the  Committee  chosen  to  consider  the 
application  of  the  heirs  of  Gov.  Hancock,  being  read  &  debated ; 
a  Motion  was  made  that  the  subject  should  subside  for  the 
present  —  the  question  being  taken  it  passed  in  the  negative. — 

A  motion  was  then  made  to  refer  the  further  consideration  of 
this  Report  to  the  Adjournment  —  which  passed  in  the  affirmative 

The  article  in  the  Warrant  "  to  consider  the  claim  of  the  heirs 
of  the  late  W".  Cooper  Esq.  for  arrears  of  the  grants  in  addition 
to  his  salary  as  Town  Clerk" — was  read  together  with  a  state- 
ment of  facts  exhibited  by  the  Selectmen  on  the  same  subject  — 
whereupon  Voted,  That  the  application  of  the  heirs  of  the  late 
William  Cooper  Esq.  for  the  arrears  of  G-rants  &c  with  the 
Statement  of  the  Selectmen  thereon  be  committed  to  the  Auditors 
of  Accounts  and  the  Committee  on  the  resources  of  the  Town  ; 
to  report  at  the  Adjournment. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1810.  269 

On  the  Article  in  the  Warrant  "viz  to  consider  the  expedi- 
ency of  appointing  Agents  with  full  powers  to  compromise  with 
Ward  Nicholas  Boylston  Esq.  all  the  claims  of  the  Town  now  in 
suit  against  him  as  Administrator  on  the  Estate  of  Thomas 
Boylston  Esq.  deceased  "  was  read  &  after  some  debate  it  was  — 
Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be  a  Committee  to  Adjust,  settle  & 
compromise  all  Claims  of  [416]  the  Town  of  Boston  to  the 
Estate  both  real  and  personal  of  Thomas  Boylston,  with  Ward 
Nicholas  Boylston  Administrator  with  the  Will  annexed  on 
said  Estate,  upon  such  terms  &  conditions  as  they  or  a  majority 
of  them  shall  determine  to  be  for  the  best  interest  of  the  Town 
under  all  circumstances ;  and  that  they  be  authorized,  upon 
receiving  such  compensation,  or  security  for  compensation  as 
they  may  agree  upon ;  to  make  &  execute  to  said  Ward  Nicholas 
Boylston  &  his  Assigns,  all  such  releases,  Assignments  &  Con- 
veyances of  their  said  claims,  and  all  such  Letters  of  Attorney 
empowering  him  to  recover  &  receive  the  same  to  his  use ;  as 
they  may  deem  proper. — 

Adjourned  to  Thursday  next  lO'O'Clock. 

Thursday  May  24**'.  1810. 
Met  according  to  Adjournment. 

The  Report  of  the  Auditors  of  the  Town's  Accounts,  was  read 
—  As  also  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  the  resources  of  the 
Town.  — 

Voted,  That  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  resources  of 
the  Town,  be  printed   for  the  information  of  the  Inhabitants. — 

Voted,  That  an  Exhibit  of  the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the 
Town  be  printed  with  the  Report  of  the  Committee. — 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  claim  made  by  the 
Administrator  of  the  late  William  Cooper  Esq.  Town  Clerk. 
[417]  Report  that  from  the  lapse  of  time  &  other  circum- 
stances attending  the  grant  of  Two  hundred  Pounds,  which  was 
made  in  the  year  1783,  of  which  one  hundred  &  fifty  pounds  was 
never  received  by  him.  it  would  not  be  proper  nor  expedient  to 
allow  Interest.  But  in  as  much  as  in  the  year  1806,  there  was  a 
formal  liquidation  of  his  accounts,  and  at  that  time  there  was  due 
to  him  including  all  demands  Twenty  three  hundred  &  fifty  eight 
Dollars  thirty  two  Cents,  And  as  the  equity  or  liberality  of  the 
Town  might  as  relates  to  the  services  of  so  ancient  and  faithful 
an  officer  be  more  confidently  appealed  to.  Your  Committee 
therefore  recommend,  that  the  said  sum  of  twenty  three  hundred 
&  fifty-eight  Dollars,  thirty  two  cents  be  paid  which  appears  to  be 
due,  with  the  further  sum  of  five  hundred  &  sixty  five  Dollars  & 
ninety  two  cents,  making  in  all  Twenty  nine  hundred  &  twenty 


270  City  Document  No.  115. 

four  Dollars  twenty  four  cents.  Provided  the  same  be  received  in 
full  for  all  services  &  of  all  demands  by  the  Administrator  on 
Estate  of  the  late  William  Cooper  Esq.  as  Town  Clerk  of  the 
Town  of  Boston. 

Boston  May  21.  1810.  Signed  Samuel  Brown 

William  Brown 
Benj*.  Austin 
John  Welles 

[418.]  A  motion  was  made  &  seconded,  that  the  Report  be 
accepted. 

The  question  being  put,  it  passed  unanimously  in  the  Affirmative. — 

Voted,  that  the  Report  of  the  joint  Committee  be  referred  to  the 
Adjournment. 

Voted,  that  this  Meeting  be  Adjourned  to  Thursday  14"^  day  of 
June  next. — 

The  Meeting  was  Adjourned  accordingly. 

Met  According  to  Adjournment. 

The  Moderator  being  absent,  The  Hon.  David  Tilden  Esq  was 
chosen  Moderator  pro.  tem. — 

The  Committee  appointed  to  take  into  consideration  the  Re- 
sources of  the  Town,  and  to  devise  a  mode  for  speedily  discharg- 
ing the  Debts.  Also  to  consider  if  any  improvements  can  be 
made  to  secure  a  more  prompt  collection  of  Taxes.,  have  attended 
to  these  Duties  &  Offer  the  following  Report  for  the  consideration 
of  their  fellow  Citizens. — 

The  Committee  in  order  to  comply  with  the  directions  given 
them  "to  take  into  consideration  the  resources  of  the  Town" 
have  thought  proper  to  ascertain  the  amount  of  their  Debts,  and 
to  state  particularly  the  several  items  which  constitute  the 
demands  upon  them  —  They  find  that  the  sum  due  from  the 
Town  amounts  to  128,827  Dollars,  which  is  taken  from  the 
following  Statement,  handed  them  by  the  Treasurer  —  viz. 

[419.]   On  Selectmens  drafts 6784.56 

Board  of  Health 503.21 

Overseers 9191.05 

County  of  Suffolk 36417.06 

State  Tax  for  1809 22694.66 

Due  at  the  Banks 41000.— 

Due  on  other  Notes 12236.58 


Dollars    128827.12 


Boston  Town  Records,  1810.  271 

The  Committee  have  also  received  from  the  Selectmen,  the 
following  Document  as  embracing  the  Resources  of  the  Town, 
from  whence  the  foregoing  Arrearages  are  contemplated  to  be 
cancelled  — 

viz.     Outstanding  Taxes,  after  deducting  abatement  of  14000 

Dollars $86,224.47 

Balance  due  from  Mr.  Curtis,  for  land     -     -     -     .  1800. — 

Land  near  South  Bridge,  Appropriated  ,to  meet  \ 
the  Expences  of  Faneuil  Hall  valued  at-     -     -)  6000.0 

Beacon  Hill  at  the  lowest  estimation   -     -     -     -     _  12000. — 


DolP.— 106,024.47 


Leaving  a  ballance  of  22802.  Dollars  and  65  Cents,  to  be  pro- 
vided for  from  other  resources. — 

In  addition  to  which,  the  Committee  are  informed  by  a  Statement 
made  by  the  Selectipen,  that  there  is  about  16500  feet  of  land 
already  filled  up  on  the  Mill  Pond,  and  that  23000  feet  more  will 
be  completed  in  October  next  and  that  the  Town's  proportion  of 
land  will  be  about  150,000  feet  when  the  business  is  finished. 

The  lands  on  the  Boston  Neck  computed  [430]  at  45  or  50 
Acres,  are  also  considered  as  a  valuable  and  growing  property, 
to  be  appropriated  as  occasions  require,  to  discharge  the  debts, 
&  other  exigencies  of  the  Town.  — 

A  further  estimate  of  resources  is  calculated  to  arise  from 
Rents  &  improvements  of  Faneuil  Hall,  and  the  Old  State  House, 
which  now  produce  about  10,500  dollars  annually. — 

The  Committee  having  thus  considered  the  Debts  of  the  Town, 
which  include  the  balances  due  on  the  Alms  _^House,  and  the 
enlargement  of  Faneuil  Hall,  (expences  which  probably  will  not 
again  take  place  for  many  years,)  do  think  that  a  small  proportion 
of  the  above  mentioned  Resources  of  the  Town  are  fully  adequate 
for  cancelling  our  present  arrearages,  in  a  few  years,  provided 
the  expenditures  should  be  conducted  upon  the  principles  of 
economy,  which  the  Committee  most  earnestly  recommend  on  all 
Money  transactions.  — 

The  Committee  however  would  inform  their  Fellow  Citizens 
that  further  Expences  to  the  County  will  soon  be  realized  from 
the  building  of  a  New  Court  House,  which  is  contemplated  to  be 
erected  this  Year ;  but  they  expect,  that  the  property  of  the 
Town  as  described  in  this  report,  together  with  the  usual  Annual 
Taxes  will  furnish  ample  Funds  for  all  future  exigencies.  — The 
Committee  would  further  Report  "On  the  mode  for  speedily 
discharging  the  Towns  Debts  "  that  it  be  recommended  to  the 
Town  to  empower  the  Selectmen  to  sell  the  39.500  feet  of  land 
which  will  be  filled  up  on  the  Mill  Pond  in  October  next,  together 
with  such  parts  of  the  other  real  [431]  Estates  as  may  be 
thought  advisable  for  raising  Forty  two  Thousand  five  hundred 
&  Ninety  two  Dollars  Sixty  four  Cents  which  is  the  balance  of 
the  Towns  debt  as  Stated  by  the  Auditors  of  the  Treasurer's 
Accounts. 


272  City  Document  No.  115. 

It  is  with  regret,  that  the  Committee  are  obliged  to  observe 
that  a  large  amount  of  Taxes  is  still  unpaid,  they  therefore  think 
it  expedient  in  Order  to  adopt  ' '  some  mode  for  speedily  discharg- 
ing the  Town's  Debts,"  to  enjoin  on  the  Constables  the  most 
prompt  attention  to  the  execution  of  all  warrants  delivered  them 
by  the  Treasurer  for  the  collection  of  Taxes,  And,  as  it  is 
impossible  for  the  debts  of  the  Town  to  be  discharged  without 
some  efficient  exertions  on  the  Part  of  the  Citizens,  the  Commit- 
tee are  constrained  to  call  on  them  to  cancel  their  dues  as  speedily 
as  possible  —  Though  it  is  a  most  unpleasant  duty  to  distress  Indi- 
viduals in  the  Collection  of  Taxes,  yet  the  demands  upon  the 
Town  from  its  improvements  and  extension  are  so  pressing,  as  to 
make  it  necessary  for  every  person  in  arrears  to  discharge  his 
quota  of  the  Public  expences  without  puting  the  Treasurer  to 
the  disagreeable  task  of  enforcing  by  Law  what  Justice  requires 
of  the  Delinquent. — In  Order  to  which,  the  Committee  recom- 
mend to  the  Town  to  prohibit  the  two  Months  indulgence  which 
has  hitherto  been  enjoined  on  the  Treasurer  in  collecting  Taxes, 
and  leave  him  to  do  all  which  the  law  directs  in  the  collection  — 
Recommending  at  the  Same  time  as  much  discretion  and  Lenity 
as  the  nature  and  urgency  of  the  Demand  will  permit.  — 

[433.]  The  Committee  consider  the  above  particulars  as 
embracing  the  several  Subjects  committed  to  them ;  they  there- 
fore submit  the  above  plain  and  concise  statement  of  the  Debts 
&  Resources  of  the  Town,  to  the  candid  consideration  of  their 
fellow  Citizens,  for  the  Purpose  of  adopting  such  measures  as 
their  wisdom  may  direct.  — 

Signed    Joseph  Russell 
William  Brown 
Samuel  Brown 
Benjamin  Austin 
John  Phillips 
John  Welles 

The  foregoing  Report  having  been  read  &  considered,  it 
was. — 

Voted,  to  accept  the  Report  of  the  Committee  with  this 
restriction,  that  the  lands  therein  recommended  for  sale,  be  not 
disposed  of  without  further  Orders  from  the  Town. — 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  tlie  Subject  of  Beacon  Hill 
was  again  taken  up  &  after  considerable  debate  it  was  Voted, 
that  the  Subject  should  subside. — 

The  Committee  appointed  to  Audit  the  Town's  Accounts,  have 
attended  that  service  &  ask  leave  to  Report,  that  they  have 
examined  the  Town  Treasurers  Accounts  &  find  them  right  cast 
and  well  vouched  —  and  that  the  following  Account  comprises 
the  Debits  &  Credits  of  the  Town  with  him 


Boston  Town  Records,  1810. 


273 


The  presumtive  deficiency  due  from  the  Town  (after  allowing 
for  the  probable  abatement  of  Taxes)  [423]  will  be  Forty  two 
Thousand  five  hundred  and  ninety  two  Dollars  64  Cents,  as 
Appears  below. — 


D'.  Due  on  Selectmens  drafts 

"  Board  of  Health  - 

"  Overseers       -     -  - 

"  County  of  Suffolk  - 

"  State  Tax      -     -  - 

"  Due  at  Banks     -  - 

"  Other  Notes  -     -  - 


6784.55 
503.21 

9191.5 
36417.6 
22694.66 
41000.— 
12236.58 


Outstanding  Taxes 


Dol?.  $128,827.11 

1803  -  -  -  750.55 

1804  -  -  -  2916.57 

1805  -  -  -  4742.16 

1806  -  -  -  10536.93 

1807  -  -  -  13998.48 

1808  -  -  -  15304.70 

1809  -  -  -  49940.91 


Cash  on  hand 


From  this  deduct  the     - 
probable  Abatements    - 

leaves  a  deficiency  to  be 
provided  for  -     -     -     - 


98190.30 
2034.17 


DolP.  $100,224.47 
-     -         14,000.— 


86,224.47 
-     -        42,592.64 

DolP.  $128,827.11 


The  Committee  Report  an  estimate  of    the  expences  for  the 
present  year,  as  follows,  viz., 

School  Masters  &  Ushers 13.800  — 

Repairs  of  Schools  Fuel  &c 1.500  — 

Town  Watch 6.300  — 

Town  Treasurer  &  Collector 1,500  — 

Three  Assessors 2,448. — 


$25,548  — 


[434.]  25,548.— 

Town  Clerk 1,000.— 

Police  Oflficers 1,400.— 

Constables  services -  500. — 


274  City  Document  No.  115. 

Judge  Municipal  Court 750. 

Messenger  to  Selectmen 350. 

Dorr  Keeper  to  Faneuil  Hall 100. 

Engines,  Repairs  &c. 500. 

Bells  &  Clocks 500. 

Incidental  Charges 2,000. 

Overseers  of  the  Poor 20,000. 

Board  of  Health 6,000. 

Paving  Streets     -     -     - 8.000 

Lamps  Oil  &  Lighting  -     -     - 7.000. 

Printing  &  Stationery -     -  500. 


DolP.  $74, U8. 
In  addition  to  the  above  usual  expences ") 
provision  must  be  made  for  the  award  of    >-  5,000 

Referees  for  widening  Exchange  Lane        ) 


$79,148 

Arrears  due  the  Estate  of '(^ 

William  Cooper  Esq'' ab*. -      \      -     3.000. 


DolP.  $82,148. 


From  the  above  Statement  your  Committee  are  of  Opinion  that 
a  Tax  of  Seventy  Thousand  Dollars  should  be  Assessed  the 
present  year  on  the  Inhabitants  to  defray  the  expences  of  the 
Town  — 

all  which  is  submitted. — 

Signed  Joseph  Russell 
Samuel  Brown 
William  Brown 
[435.]  Boston  22*^.  May  1810. 

The  foregoing  Report  having  been  read  &  considered — it  was. 

Voted  to  accept  the  report  of  the  Committee  with  this  Amend- 
ment', viz,  to  add  Twelve  Thousand  Dollars  to  the  Report,  for  the 
purpose  of  paying  for  Land  purchased  of  Mr.  Weld  on  Cops  Hill, 
and  other  purposes. —  and  it  was 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Eighty  Two  Thousand  Dollars  be 
raised  by  a  Tax  to  be  Assessed  on  the  Polls  &  Estates  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  Town,  to  defray  the  expences  the  current 
year. — 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  Seven  hundred  &  fifty  Dollars,  be 
allowed  &  paid  unto  Hon.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  for  his  Salary  as 
Judge  of  Municipal  Court  the  present  year. — 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  Fifteen  hund       Dollars  be  allowed  & 


Boston  Town  Records,  1810.  275 

paid  unto  William  Smith  Esq.  as  Treasurer  &  Collector  of  Taxes 
the  present  year,  he  to  pay  his  Clerk,  Assistant,  Office  hire  and 
all  other  expences  of  Office. — 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  one  Thousand  Dollars  be  allowed  & 
paid  unto  Thomas  Clark  for  his  salary  as  Town  Clerk  the  year 
ensuing. — 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  Eight  hundred  &  Sixteen  Dollars  be 
allowed  &  paid  unto  each  of  the  three  Assessors  for  their  ser- 
vices in  that  Office  the  year  ensuing. — 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Five  hundred  Dollars  be  allowed  & 
paid  unto  the  Town  Advocate  for  his  Salary  the  year  ensuing  — 
he  to  account  with  the  Town  for  all  fees  received  by  him,  &  that 
he  be  [436]  allowed  to  retain  all  fees  received  by  him  from  the 
first  of  August,  to  the  first  day  of  March  last,  as  his  Salary. 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the  Modera- 
tors of  this  Meeting,  for  their  services. 

Then  the  Meetina;  was  Dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston,  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  4"^  day  of  July 
A.D.  1810.  9  oClock  A.M. 

Thomas  Clark,  was  chosen  Moderator. — 

The  Committee  Appointed  the  last  year  to  make  choice  of  a 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  Indepen- 
dence —  Reported, 

That  they  had  chosen  Alexander  Townsend  Esq.  who  has 
accepted  of  the  appointment. — 

Adjourned  to  the  old  South  Church  12  °Clock  —  where  — 

AN   ORATION 

was  delivered  by  Alexander  Townsend  Esq.,  to  commemorate 
the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

on  Motion,  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be,  and  hereby  are  appointed 
a  Committee  to  wait  on  Alexander  Townsend  Esq.,  in  the  name 
of  the  Town,  and  thank  him  for  the  elegant  and  Spirited  Oration, 
this  day  delivered  by  him  [437]  at  the  request  of  the  Town, 
upon  the  Anniversary  of  American  Independence,  in  which  were 
considered  the  feelings,  manners,  and  principles,  which  produced 


276  City  Document  No.  115. 

the  great  national  event ;   and  to  request  of  him   a  Copy  for  the 
press. — 

Voted  that  the  Gentlemen,  Selectmen  be  &  hereby  are  appointed 
a  Committee,  to  apply  to  some  able  &  learned  Gentleman  to 
deliver  an  Oration  on  the  4*^  day  of  July  1811.  — That  day  being 
the  Anniversary  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of 
America ;  wherein  the  Orator  is  to  consider,  the  feelings,  man- 
ners, and  principles  which  led  to  this  great  National  Event ;  as 
well  as  the  important  &  happy  effects,  whether  General  or 
Domestic,  which  have  already,  or  will  forever  flow  from  that 
Auspicious  Epoch.  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  1^*. 
day  of  August  A.D.  1810.     10  °Clock  A.M.  — 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read. 

Hon.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq  Chosen  Moderator. 

[438.]     The  Article  in  the  warrant  viz,  "  upon  the  Petition 
of  a  number  of  the  Inhabitants,   to  consider  the  expediency  of 
continuing  to  dig  up  &  remove  from  their  graves  to   a    Common 
Vault,  the  remains  of  bodies  heretofore  deposited,  in  the  Gran- 
ary Chapel  &  North  buryuig  grounds,  with  a  view  to  appropriate 
anew  the  same  entire  grounds,  to  the  interment  of  the  dead,  & 
whether  it  be  not  expedient,  for  reasons  set  forth  in  said  petition 
to  discontinue  altogether,  the  practice  of  burying  in  graves,  in 
the  Chapel  and  Granary  Grounds ;   and  to  consider  what  other 
lauds  in  the  outskirts   of  the  Town  may  be  appropriated  to  this 
object."  —  was  read  ■ — -  and  after  some  debate  it  was  —  Voted 
That,  Hon.  Harrison  G.  Otis 
James  Prince  & 
Arnold  Welles  Esqrs. 
be  a  Committee  to  take  up  the  Subject  of  said  petition  at  large, 
and  report  at  the  Adjournment.  — 

The  other  article  in  the  Wai-rant,  viz,  to  consider  &  Act  upon 
the  petition  of  a  number  of  the  members  of  the  3"^.  Artillery  Com- 
pany, that  they  may  be  permitted  to  erect  a  Gun  House  on  the 
summit  of  Fort  Hill,  for  the  use  of  said  Company  —  was  read  — 
and  Committed  to  Maj.  Ch^  Curtis,  Gen  John  Winslow  &  David 
Tilden  Esqrs.  to  report  at  the  adjournment.  — 

Adjourned  to  Friday  next  10  oClock  A.M. 


Boston  Town  Recokds,  1810.  277 

[429.]  Friday  August  d"^.  1810.     10  oClock  A.M. 

Met  according  to  Adjournment. — 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  refere'd  the  Petition  of  a  number 
of  the  Inhabitants  relative  to  the  subject  of  the  burying  grounds 
respectfully  Report  — 

That  in  the  opinion  of  your  Committee, 
the  board  of  health  have  proceeded  with  the  greatest  prudence, 
circumspection  &  regard  to  decorum  in  executing  the  Authority 
given  to  them  by  the  Town  and  sanctioned  by  the  Legislature 
and  the  regulations  adopted  by  them  relative  to  funerals  are 
judicious,  and  if  steadily  pursued  will  prove  conducive  to  the 
convenience  and  advantage  of  the  Town. —  But  such  is  the 
present  crowded  state  of  the  Granary  &  Chapel  burying  grounds 
as  to  render  it  expedient  to  discontinue  the  opening  of  graves 
therein,  untill  some  urgent  and  absolute  necessity  shall  require  a 
renewal  of  this  practice. — 

And  they  recommend  the  following  resolution. 

That  the  burial  of  the  dead  in  graves  in  the  Granary  &  Chapel 
burying  grounds  be  discontinued  and  that  the  same  be  not  Con- 
sidered as  Common  burying  grounds  untill  the  further  order  of 
the  Town,  saving  to  the  proprietors  of  Tombs  the  right  of  using 
their  private  property. — 

That  the  Selectmen  be  requested  to  locate  such  tract  of  land 
belonging  to  the  Town  on  the  Neck,  as  in  their  judgment  shall 
be  sufficient  and  best  adapted  for  a  burying  ground,  and  to  enclose 
&  prepare  the  same  for  that  purpose. — 

[430.]  That  the  board  of  health  be  requested  to  discontinue 
their  Operations  in  the  Chapel  and  Granary  burying  grounds, 
except  such  as  may  be  necessary  to  Complete  the  cemeteries  and 
Tombs  already  begun  under  their  Authority. — 

That  the  public  cemeteries  already  constructed  in  the  burying 
grounds  be  used  as  temporary  repositories  for  the  dead,  subject 
to  such  regulations  as  the  board  of  health  may  prescribe,  &  that 
the  board  of  health  be  invested  with  full  powers  to  make  requisite 
rules  and  ordinances  for  the  removal  of  bodies  from  said  ceme- 
teries to  the  Common  burying  grounds,  and  for  indemnifying  the 
Town  from  the  expence  incident  to  such  removal  with  such 
exceptions  &  Conditions  as  they  may  deem  reasonable. — 

H.  G.  Otis,  Per  Order. 

The  foregoing  report  having  been  read,  considered  &  debated, 
a  Motion  was  made  to  strike  out  the  Preamble  of  the  Report, — 
The  question  being  taken  it  passed  in  the  Negative. — 

The  Report  was  then  considered  by  paragraphs  &  Accepted  by 
a  very  large  Majority. 


278  City  Document  No.  115. 

Boston  Aug'.  2'^.  1810  — 
The  undersigned,  appointed  a  Committee  by  the  Town,  on  the 
petition  of  the  3*^.  Artillery  Company,   are  of  opinion  that   the 
prayer  of  said  petition  ought  not  to  be  granted.— 

Signed.  Ch^  Curtis 

John  Winslow 
D.  Tilden. 

[431.]     The  foregoing  report  was  Accepted. — 

It  was  then  Moved,  &  Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  authorized 
to  locate  a  lot  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  Fort  Hill  below  the 
Circus  for  the  use  of  the  3*^  Artillery  Company,  untill  the  further 
Order  of  the  Town. — 

Voted,  that  it  is  the  sense  of  the  Town  that  the  G-un  House  on 
Copps  Hill  should  be  removed  to  some  suitable  part  of  the  land 
lately  purchased  by  the  Town. — 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the  Modera- 
tor of  this  Meeting. — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[433.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned, 
in  Public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  hall  on  Monday 
5'^  day  of  November  A.D.  1810.  9  oClock  A.M.— 

Prayer  by  Rev  Mr.  Emmerson. — 

Warrant  for  Calhng  the  Meeting  —  read  — 

Paragraphs  of  a  Eesolve  of  the  General  Court  for  Choosing 
one  Representative  for  Suffolk  District  —  read  — 

The  Inhabitants  were  informed  that  the  Poll  would  be  closed 
at  2  oClock  —  Bells  to  Commence  tohing  at  half  past  1  °Clock. — 

Persons  Voted  for  as  a  Representative  for  the  Suffolk  District 
in  this  Commonwealth  in  the  next  Congress  of  the  United  States 
—  viz  — 

For  Hon.  Josiah  Quincy  Esq.  Nineteen  hundred  and  Nine. — 

For  Hon.  David  Tilden  Esq.  Six  hundred  &  forty. 

For  John  C.  Jones  Esq. —  One. 

For  Deacon  David  Goodwin  —  One. 

For  David  Everett  Esq. — One And 

declaration  thereof  made  by  the  Selectmen  in  Public  Town 
Meeting. — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1811.  279 

A  return  of  the  doings  of  this  Meeting  was  made  out,  (con- 
formable to  the  one  in  the  Town  Officer)  and  put  into  the  hands 
of  Mr.  Sheriff  Bradford  to  be  by  him  given  to  Benjamin  Homans 
Esq.  Secretary  of  this  Commonwealth. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


1811. 

[433.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholdei's  &  other  Inhabitants 
of  the  Town  of  Boston,  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned  in  Public 
Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  11*^ 
Day  of  March  A.D.  1811.  —  10  °Clock  A.M.  — 

Prayer  by  Rev  Mr  Buckminster.  — 

Warrant  for  Calling  the  Meeting  —  read  — 

Stephen  Codman  Esq 
Chosen  Moderator.  — 

Extract  of  Laws  —  read.  — 

Thomas  Clark. 
was  chosen  Town  Clerk    for  the  year  ensuing  —  The   Oath   of 
Office  was  administered  to  him  by  Stephen  Codman  Esq.  — 

Charles  Bulfinch  John  May 

William  Porter  Francis  Wright 

Ebenezer  Oliver  Joseph  Foster 

Jonathan  Hunnewell  Nathan  Webb,  and 

Benjamin  Weld.  Esquires, 
were  Chosen  Selectmen  for  the  year  ensuing.  — 

William  Smith  Esq. 
was  Chosen  Town  Treasurer  and  Collector  of  Taxes  for  the  year 
ensuing.  — 

[434.]  William  Smith  William  Mackay 

William  Phillips  Joseph  Coolidge  Jun^". 

Redford  Webster  Joseph  Richards 

Thomas  Perkins  Bryant  P  Tilden 

Samuel  Snelling  Ephraitu  Eliot  and 

Ozias  Goodwin  Jonathan  Phillips  Esquires 

were  Chosen  Overseers  of  the  Poor. 

•Edward  Proctor  &  Henry  Hill  Esq"^^.  having  declined  a  re- 
election as  Overseers  of  the  Poor  —  it  was  — 

Voted,  that  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Edward 
Proctor  &  Henry  Hill  Esquires,  for  their  faithful  services  as 
Overseers  of  the  Poor  for  many  years  past.  — 


280  City  Document  No,  115. 

Thomas  Melvill  Andrew  Cunningham 

Joseph  May  Joseph  Head 

John  Wins  low  Edw^.  Cruft 

Stephen  Codman  James  Phillips 

John  Bray  Bryant  P.  Tilden 

Jon^.  Hunnewell  Nathan  Webb 

Dan\  Messinger  George  Blanchard 

Benjamin  Coats  Samuel  M.  Thayer 

[435.]   William  Sullivan  Joseph  Tilden 

Bemjamin  Smith  Thomas  Page 

Ignatius  Sargent  Joseph  Austin^ — and  — 

Nath^.  Curtiss  Benjamin  Rich  Esquires, 

were  Chosen  Firewards  for  the  year  ensuing. — 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Thomas  Cur- 
tis, Joshua  Davis,  Samuel  Swett  and  James  Robinson  Esqrs.  for 
their  Services  as  firewards  the  year  past. — 

Voted,  That  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  twelve  persons  shall 
now  be  chosen  a  >School  Committee^  &  the  Votes  being  collected 
it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen  —  viz, 

Rev.  W.  Emmerson  Rev.  W.  E.  Channing 

Rev.  Jos.  S.  Buckminster  Dr.  Aaron  Dexter 

Dr.  Thomas  Welsh  Arnold  Welles  Esq. 

David  Greene  Esq.  William  Smith  Esq. 

Charles  Davis  Esq.  John  Heard  Ju'".  Esq. 

John  Phillips  Esq.  W™.  Prescott  Esq. 

Voted,  That  the  above  named  Gentlemen  who  conjunctly  with 
the  Selectmen,  are  termed  the  [436]  School  Committee,  be  and 
hereby  are  directed  to  carry  the  System  of  Education,  Adopted 
by  the  Town  into  operation  ;  and  that  said  Committee  be  also 
Authorized  &  empowered  conjunctly  to  manage  &  regulate  the 
Government  of  the  Schools ;  and  to  execute  all  the  powers  rela- 
tive to  the  Schools  &  School  Masters,  which  the  Selectmen  or 
such  Committees  are  Authorized  by  the  Laws  of  the  Common- 
wealth or  by  Votes  of  the  Town  to  exercise. — 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Rev.  Dr. 
Kirkland  for  his  faithful  services  as  one  of  the  School  Committee 
for  many  years  past. — 

Votes  —  for  a  County  Treasurer,  for  the  County  of  Suffolk 
brought  in  and  counted  by  the  Moderator  &  Town  Clerk  when  it 
appeared  that  Ebenezer  Sever  Esq.  had,  340  Votes,  Josiah  Batch- 
elder  Esq.  had  2  Votes  and  WiUiam  Smith  Esq.  had  one  Vote. — 

Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  Count  and  Sort  the  Votes  for  a 
Register  of  Deeds  for  the  County  of  Suffolk. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1811.  281 

Votes,  for  a  County  Register  of  Deeds,  for  Suffolk  were 
brought  in  &  Counted,  it  appeared  that  the  whole  number  was 
440.  &  that  they  were  all  for  William  Alline  Esq. 

Messrs.  Benjamin  White  Messrs.  Eleazer  Homer 

John  Cogswell  Joseph  Stodder 

William  Clouston  Allen  Bowker 

[437.]     William  Ellison  William  EUison  Jun^ 

John  Butterfield  Nath^  Glover 

Nath^  Bradlee  Jun'.  John  Howe  Jul''. 

Noah  Doggett  Richard  Thayer 

Braddock  Loring  Edward  J.  Robbins 

Thomas  Christie  Henry  Blake 

William  Green  Joseph  Tucker. 

were  chosen  Surveyor  of  Boards  &  Shingles  for  the  year  ensuing. 

WiUiam  Minot  Esq. 
was  Chosen  Town  Advocate  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Henry  Purkett,  Nathaniel  Howe,  Jolin  Smith  &  James 
Eunson  were  Chosen  Cullers  of  Hoops  &  Staves. 

Messrs.  Tho^.  Barber  Messrs.  Samuel  Smith 

Hezekiah  Hudson  Nath^  Howe 

John  Smith  James  Eunson 

Gershom  Spear  Benjamin  Clark 

Charles   Pook, 

were  Chosen  Cullers  of  dry  fish,  for  the  jear  ensuing. — 

[438.]  Messrs.  Benjamin  White 

William  Ellison  and 

Nath^.  Bradlee  Jun^ 
were  Chosen  Fence  Viewers  for  the  year  ensuing. 

Messrs.  Barney  Conner 
Joseph  Cobbett 
John  Deluce 
Rufus  Harrington  and 
Israel  Mead  Jun'". 
were  Chosen  Hog-reeves.  — 

Messrs.  Barney  Connor 
Joseph  Cobbett 
John  Deluce 
Rufus  Harrington  and 
Israel  Mead  Jun"". 
were  Chosen  Hay  wards. — 

Samuel  Emmons  and 
James  Phillips  Esqrs, 
were  Chosen  Surveyors  of  Hemp  for  the  year  ensuing. 


282  City  Document  No.  115. 

Edward  Tuckerman  and 
Josiah  Snelling  Esqrs. 
were  Chosen  Surveyors  of  Wheat. — 

Messrs.  John  Wells  and 
Richard  Austin, 
were  Chosen  Assay  Masters. — 

The  Selectmen,  were  Chosen  Surveyors  of  Highway. — 
Messrs.  Francis  James,  Silas  Francis  and  Michael  Homer,  were 
Chosen  Inspectors  of  Lime. — 

[439.]  Voted,  That  Samuel  Brown,  William  Brown  & 
Stephen  Codman  Esquires  be,  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a 
Committee  to  Audit  the  Accounts  of  the  Town  Treasurer,  and 
also  those  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  &  the  Board  of  Health 
and  said  Committee  are  directed  to  report  the  sum  necessary  to 
be  raised  for  the  services  of  the  present  year. — 

Voted,  That  the  Consideration  of  all  money  matters  be  referred 
to  the  next  May  Meeting  — 

On  a  Motion  made  by  James  Prince  Esq.  it  was. — 
Voted,  That  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Wards  for  the  purpose 
of  electing  the  Board  of  Health  and  Assistant  Assessors,  there 
be  Chosen  a  Committee  to  consist  of  one  person  from  each  Ward, 
to  enquire  into  the  pecuniary  concerns  of  the  Town,  and  Report 
the  state  of  their  Property  whether,  real,  mixed  or  personal. — 
The  amount  of  debts  due  by  the  Town  whether  to  Banks  or  in- 
dividuals, what  property  has  been  appropriated  for  specific  pur- 
poses ;  and  also  of  all  debts  due  to  the  Town  &  generally  to 
enquire  into  all  matters  &  things  relative  to  the  monied  concerns 
of  the  Town,  and  what  savings  may  be  made  in  the  current 
expences  in  future  —  and  said  Committee  shall  digest  and  prepare 
a  report  on  the  subject  which  they  shall  present  to  the  Selectmen 
who  shall  cause  the  same  to  be  printed  and  distributed  among 
the  Inhabitants  ten  days  at  least  before  the  May  Meeting. — 

[440.]  Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  take  measures  to  carry 
the  foregoing  Vote  into  effect. — 

The  Article  in  the  Warrant  viz  "  to  Appoint  Agents  to  Answer 
to  an  indictment  found  against  the  Town  for  a  nuisance,  occasioned 
by  discharging  Night  carts  &  other  filth,  from  the  wharf  at  the 
end  of  Leverett  Street." — was  read  —  whereupon  Voted,  That 
the  Selectmen  be  appointed  Agents,  to  appear  at  Court  in  behalf 
of  the  Town  &  defend  the  Suit. 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Stephen  Cod- 
man  Esq.  for  his  services  as  Moderator.  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


Boston  Town  Rbcoeds,  1811.  283 

[441.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  of  twenty  one  years  of  Age  and  upwards  qualified  as 
the  Constitution  prescribes  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  At  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  first  day  of 
April  Anno  Domini  1811.  9  °Clock  A.M.— 

Prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Lowell.  — 

Warrant  for  Calling  the  Meeting  —  read  — 

Paragraphs  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government,  rela- 
tive to  the  Choice  of  Governour,  Lieutenant  Governour  and  Sen- 
ators, were  read.  — 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen,  that  no  Vote  shall  be 
received  but  such  as  are  unfolded.  —  That  the  Poll  shall  be  closed 
at  half  past  two  O'Clock  P.M.  and  that  the  Bells  begin  tolling 
at  2  O'clock  &  continue  for  half  an  hour.  — 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Governour,  with  the  number  of  Votes  for 
each  person.     Viz. 

His  Excellency  Elbridge  Gerry  Esq.     .     -     -     -  1879 

Hon  Christopher  Gore  Esq. 3128 

Hon.  Harrison  G.  Otis  Esq. 3 

Hon.  Theodore  Sedgwick  Esq.    ------  1 

Hon.  Levi  Lincoln  Esq.     -- 2 

Hon.  John  Adams  Esq. 1 

Zachariah  G.  Whitman  Esq. 1 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Lieutenant  Governour,  with  the  number 
of  Votes  for  each  person  — Viz.  — 

[443.]   His  Honour  William  Gray  Esq. 1878 

Hon.  William  Phillips  Esq. 3128 

Hon.  William  Heath  Esq. 1 

Hon.  John  PhilUps  Esq. 1 

Hon.  John  Welles  Esq. -  1 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  with 
the  number  of  Votes  for  each  person  —  viz.  — 

Hon.  Harrison  G.  Otis  Esq. 3125 

Hon.  John  Phillips  Esq. 3130 

Hon.  John  Welles  Esq. 3133 

Hon.  Peter  C.  Brooks  Esq. 3123 

Daniel  Sargent  Esq. 3120 

Hon.  David  Tilden  Esq. 1871 

Samuel  Brown  Esq.  --------  1872 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq. 1872 

Mr.  Caleb  Bingham 1870 

Mr.  William  Little 1866 


284  City  Document  No.  115. 

William  Sullivan  -  5  Sam^.  Dexter  -     -  -  - 

Josiah  Bacheldor  -  1  Tho^  C.  Amory  -  -  - 

William  Phillips  -  1  Jonathan  Amory  -  -  - 

Charles  Jackson  -  2  Dr.  James  Jackson  -  - 

William  Prescott  -  1  Tho^  H.  Perkins  -  - 

Benj".  Whitman  -  1  Arnold  Welles      -  -  - 

Benj",  Weld  -     -  -  1  Jesse  Putnam  -     -  -  - 

Jon'^.  Hunnewell  -  1  David  Towusend 

Robert  G-ardner  -  1  Tho®.  K.  Jones     -  -  - 

John  C.  Jones   -  -  1  John  Heard     -     -  -  - 

Lemuel  Hayward  -  1  Nath^  Brewer       .  -  _ 

Joseph  Jones      -  -  1  Benjamin  Austin 

[443.]  Edward  Procter  -  1  Jeremiah  Bridge  -  -  - 

Daniel  Baxter    -  -  1  William  Noyes      -  -  - 
Amos  Binney       -     -     -     1 

Attested  Copies  or  return  of  the  persons  Voted  for  as  Gov- 
ernour,  Lieutenant  G-overnour  &  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suf- 
folk sealed  up  in  Town  Meeting  after  the  vote  had  been  declared, 
to  be  transmitted  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  as  pre- 
scribed by  law  &  directed  as  follows  —  viz. 

To  Benjamin  Homans  Esq.  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts,  Votes  of  the  Town  of  Boston  for  Governour,  Lieu- 
tenant Governour,  &  five  Senators  for  the  County  of  Suffolk, 
Sealed  up  in  open  Town  Meeting.  — 

Then  the  Meetins;  was  Dissolved 


[444.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston,  qualified  as  the  Constitution  pre- 
scribes &  legally  warned  in  Public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at 
Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the  16"^  day  of  May  A.D.  1811  —  9 
O'clock  A.M.  — 

Prayer  made  by  Rev.  Mr.  Mitchell. 

Warrant  for  Calling  the  Meeting — read. — 

That  part  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  G-overnment  which 
relates  to  the  Choice  of  Representatives  —  read  — 

The  return  of  the  Assessors  signifying  that  the  Major  &  Minor 
ratable  Polls  of  this  Town  for  the  present  year  were  10,018  — 
being  also  read  — 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  by  the  Selectmen,  to  bring  in 
their  Votes  for  Representatives ;  not  exceeding  44  —  and  that 
they  propose  the  Poll  be  Closed  at  half  past  1  O'Clock — the 
bells  to  commence  tolling  at  1,  O'Clock.  — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1811.  285 

The  Votes  being  brought  in,  sorted  &  counted,  it  appeared  at 
the  close  of  the  Poll,  that  the  following  G-entlemen  were  Elected 
Representatives  for  the  year  ensuing     -     -     (viz.)     -     -     -     - 

William  Smith  Esq.  Samuel  Cobb  Esq. 

Hon.  William  Brown  Jon^.  Hunewell  Esq. 

William  Sullivan  Esq.  William  Phillips  Esq. 

Dea.  Francis  Wright  Benj'^.  Russell  Esq. 

Mr.  Tho®.  W.  Sumner  Benj".  Whitman  Esq. 

Charles  Davis  Esq.  James  Robinson  Esq. 

[445.]  William  Hammatt  Esq.  Mr.  John  Parker 

Mr.  Edward  T.  Andrews  Mr.  Isaac  P.  Davis 

William  H.  Sumner  Esq.  Mr.  Ephraim  Thayer 

Mr.  Josiah  Knapp  Mr.  Benj".  Weld 

Oliver  Keating  Esq.  Mr.  Nath".  Webb 

Daniel  Messinger  Esq.  George  G.  Lee  Esq. 

Mr.  John  Chandler  Mr.  William  Porter 

John  May  Esq.  Sam^.  M.  Thayer  Esq. 

George  Blanchard  Esq.  Mr.  Nath^  Curtis 

Hon  W™.  Prescott  Hon.  Artemas  Ward 

Alex'^.  Townsend  Esq.  Mr.  Rich*^^.  Faxon 

Mr.  John  D.  Howard  Mr.  Thacher  Goddard 

Samuel  J.  Prescott  Esq.  Mr.  Jon^.  Whitney 

Mr.  Lynde  Walter  Mr.  Samuel  Dunn 

Lemuel  Shaw  Esq.  James  Savage  Esq. 

Mr.  Jon^.  Loring  Mr.  John  G.  Coffin 

declaration  of  the  choice  was  then  made.  — 

On  Motion,  Voted  that  this  Meeting  be  adjourned  to  Saturday 
next  10  O'clock  —  to  supply  the  places  in  the  number  of  Repre- 
sentatives, of  any  persons  who  may  decline  accepting  the  appoint- 
ment &  to  complete  the  business  of  the  Meeting. 

Adjourned. 

Saturday  10,  O'Clock  A.M. 

Met  according  to  Adjournment  — 

no  resignation  having  taken  place  among  the  Gentlemen  Chosen 
Representatives.  — 

The  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[446.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned, 
in  Public  Town  Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday 
the  27*^  Day  of  May  A.D.  1811.  10  O'Clock  A.M. — 

Warrant  fo:*'  Calling  the  Meeting  —  read.  — 


286  City  Document  No.  115. 

Stephen  Codman  Esq. 
was  Chosen  Moderator. 

Rev  Charles  Lowell 
was  Chosen  one  of  the  School  Committee  in  place  of  Rev.  Wil= 
ham  Emmerson  deceased.  — 

The  Committee  chosen  in  the  several  Wards,  in  pursuance  of  a 
Vote  of  the  Town  having  requested  a  full  communication  from 
the  Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  Board  of  Health,  and 
Town  Treasurer  and  Collector,  &  having  received  their  several 
reports,  and  maturely  weighed  and  considered  the  same,  ask  leave 
to  report. — 

That  they  find  the  real  estate  of  the  Town  consists  of  the  fol- 
lowing pieces,  of  the  value  of  which  the  Committee  are  unable  to 
judge,  and  have  therefore  submitted  the  rents  of  such  of  them 
as  are  leased,  and  the  value  set  upon  them  by  the  Selectmen  in 
their  report  to  this  board. — 

Faneuil  Hall  and  Old  State  House,  the 
rents  of  which  are  stated  at $10,700,  P"^.  Annum 

New  Stalls  in  Market,  and  the  Old  ones, 
The  rents  estimated  at 1332.67 

[447.]  Land  by  south  Bridge,  extend- 
ing 290  feet  on  the  Street  leading  to  the 
Bridge,  together  with  the  right  of  the  flats 
on  each  side  to  the  channel  valued  at     -     -      $3000. — 

Towns  land  on  Beacon  Hill 12000.— 

Land  opposite  the  Mall  at  the  South  ) 
end  of  New  block  of  Buildings  |     -      10000. — 

Land  in  the  Mill  pond  already  filled  up.   -      16500  feet  — 

Land  contracted  to  be  filled  up  1**.  June  -      23000  do  — 

Land  to  which  the  Town  will  be  finally 
entitled  when  the  whole  Pond  shall  have 
been  filled  up  exclusive  of  canal,  Streets, 
or  Markets 150,000  do  — 

About  1600  feet  of  land  near  South  Boston  Bridge  under  con- 
tract to  Deacon  Brown. — 

Between  40  and  fifty  Acres  of  land  upon  the  neck  which  has 
been  judiciously  laid  out  into  Streets  and  lots,  but  for  which  there 
is  at  present  no  demand. — 

The  Committee  cannot  find,  that  under  the  description  of 
"  personal  or  mixed  "  property,  the  Town  possess  any  other  than 
the  amount  either  paid  or  still  due  for  sales  of  land  on  the  Neck, 
amounting  in  the  whole  to  12999  dollars  16  Cents. — 

This  sum  was  originally  intended  to  be  reserved  as  a  fund 
under  the  management  of  the  trustees  of  the  neck  land,  to  accu- 
mulate untill  it  should  amount  to  such  a  sum  as  would  meet  the 
annual  expences  of  the  Town ;  but  the    Committee  find  that  it 


Boston  Toavjst  Recouds,  1811. 


287 


has  been  paid  into  the  Treasury  — ;  and  the  Inhabitants  are 
responsible  for  the  amount  to  the  said  Trustees  of  the  Neck 
land. — 

[448.]  They  cannot  perceive  any  advantage  resulting  to 
the  Town,  while  it  continues  so  deeply  in  debt,  in  reserving  a 
fund  for  which  the  Inhabitants  are  paying  interest,  while  the 
Town  itself  is  indebted  in  much  larger  sums  carrying  Interest.  — 

They  therefore  recommend,  that  the  amount  of  the  Sales  of  this 
land,  already  received,  and  such  as  may  be  hereafter  received, 
should  be  applied  to  the  extinction  of  so  much  of  the  debts  due 
by  the  Town,  carrying  interest.  — 

In  obedience  to  the  second  direction  in  their  Commission,  to 
inquire  into  the  amount  ' '  of  the  debts  due  by  the  Town  whether 
to  Banks  or  individuals,"  the  Committee  report,  that  from  the 
returns  made  to  them  by  the  Town  Treasurer  the  debts  due  by 
the  Town  are  as  follows.  — 

Notes  payable  to  sundry  Banks. 

Massachusetts  Bank $8000 — 

United  States  Bank 900 — 

Boston  Bank -     -  4000— 

Union  Bank -  23000— 

Notes  to  individuals ♦ 

Benjamin  Barker    -.- 1544.17 

Elizabeth  Partridge 772.  8 

$38216.25 

Selectmen  of  Boston* 1230. — 

Estate  of  John  Gray 107. — 

Tuthill  Hubbards  heirs 3024.15 

Benj".  Weld  on  account  burial  ground     -     -     -     -  1500. — 

Leveretts  heirs  for  Alms  house  land     -     -     -     -     -  2239.84 

R.  G.  Shaw  for  Fore  Street       -------  1000.— 

Henry  Sargent  for  Exchange  Lane     -----  3000. — 


[449.] 

The  Committee  moreover  find  due  to  sundry  Cor- 
porations &  persons  not  on  Note,  as  follows,  viz. — 

State  Tax ■--.. 

County  Tax 

Selectmens  drafts  t 

Board  of  Health     -------_ 

Overseers     --.. 


$50317.24 


20081.98 

49316.99 

21663.27 

691.46 

10287.83 


The  Committee  cannot  discover  any  property  specifically  ap- 


*Thi8  sum  is  a  charitable  fund  under  the  direction  of  the  Selectmen. 

t  This  Sum  includes  the  Sum  of  $484  due  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Neck  land. 


288  City  Document  No.  115. 

propriated  exclusive  of  the  land  and  buildings  used  for  Schools 
and  other  purposes  which  cannot  be  diverted  from  their  present 
appropriations. 

They  find  the  debts  due  to  the  Town  exclusive  of  the  amount 
due  for  the  Neck  land  as  above  stated,  to  consist  of  ihe  arrearages 
of  Taxes  from  the  year  1803  to  1810  inclusive,  which  amount  in 
the  whole  to  the  very  Important  sum  of  $109,000.  — 

The  Committee  have  thus  discharged  in  the  best  manner  in 
their  power  all  the  specific  and  well  defined  objects  of  their 
Commission  ;  but  they  cannot  overlook  the  manifest  intention  of 
the  Town,  in  the  general  authority  given  them  to  "inquire 
generally  into  the  monied  Concerns  of  the  Town,  and  what  savings 
may  be  made  in  the  current  expences  in  future." 
[450.]  The  former  part  of  this- general  and  comprehensive  clause 
may  be  construed  into  an  Authority,  and  perhaps  an  obligation,  to 
Suggest  any  improvement  in  the  management  of  the  Town's 
financial  concerns  which  might  occur  to  the  Committee,  while  the 
latter  seems  to  be  confined  simply  to  the  Subject  of  economical 
savings  in  the  detail  of  the  Annual  expenditure  — 

The  Committee,  called  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  to  the 
exercise  of  this  important  duty,  unacquainted  as  they  were,  & 
must  be  presumed  to  be  with  the  fiscal  arrangements  of  the  Town, 
adopted  the  measures  which  they  conceived  the  most  proper  to 
enable  them  to  ascertain  what  savings  might  be  made  in  the 
different  departments  of  municipal  policy,  by  Calling  upon  all 
the  public  functionaries,  who  are  justly  presumed  to  have  the 
Confidence  of  the  people,  by  their  being  freely  and  with  great 
unanimity  elected  to  their  Offices,  from  their  several  statements, 
which  will  be  returned  with  this  report,  it  was  found  that  no 
material  savings  could  be  expected  in  any  essential  part  of  the 
annual  expenditure. —  Theu  indeed  we  consider  the  numerous  and 
highly  important  objects  for  which  the  taxes  of  the  Town  are 
employed,  and  that  these  subjects  have  been  annually  investi- 
gated by  committees,  and  more  especially  the  last  year  by  a  large 
and  respectable  one,  composed  of  persons  of  different  political 
Opinions,  who  were  unable  to  discover  that  any  material  savings 
could  be  made  in  the  annual  expences  of  the  Town,  and  particu- 
larly as  the  estimate  of  the  expences  for  the  [451]  Current 
year  falls  short  of  the  sum  granted  the  last  year  more  than  five 
Thousand  Dollars,  the  Committee  cannot  venture  to  recommend 
to  the  Town  any  diminution  in  the  Allowances  for  this  years 
expences  other  than  those  which  are  recommended  by  the  Offices 
of  the  Town  —  But  although  the  Committee  are  unable  to  recom- 
mend any  specific  savings  in  the  Annual  expences  of  the  Town, 
yet  under  the  general  authority  to  "enquire  into"  the  monied 
concerns  of  the  Town  "  they  feel  themselves  not  only  authorized 
but  obliged  to  state  that  it  is  apparent  to  your  Committee,  that 
from  the  imperfect  manner  in  which  the  taxes  have  been  Col- 
lected, the  affairs  of  the  Town  are  in  a  state  of  derangement  ill 
suited  to  its  Interest,  to  its  ability,  or  its  credit. — 
A  debt  of  152,000  dollars  which  is  balanced  only  by  a  debt  due 


Boston  Town  Records,  1811.  289 

to  the  Town  upon  past  taxes  of  109,000  dollars,  one  third  of  the 
former  bearing  interest,  while  the  whole  of  the  latter  carries  no 
interest,  exhibits  such  marks  of  improvidence,  as  Calls  for  an 
imediate  remedy. —  It  must  also  be  observed  that  while  the  debts 
due  from  the  Town  must  be  discharged  at  their  face,  a  very  Con- 
siderable proportion  of  the  sum  due  to  the  Corporation  may 
never  be  Collected. — 

Happily  however  the  relief  is  in  our  own  power,  the  means 
proposed  to  remedy  this  evil  are  of  two  kinds. — 

1®'.  To  dispose  of  so  much  of  the  Towns  property,  as  will  place 
them  in  a  state  of  Independence. — 

[452.]  2°'^^^.  To  Alter  the  System  of  Collection  in  future  in 
such  a  manner  as  may  pi^event  the  recurrence  of  a  deficiency  so 
mortifying  and  injurious  to  the  interests  of  the  Town. — 

As  to  the  first,  it  would  not  be  expedient  for  the  Town  at  the 
present  moment,  to  force  the  Sales,  of  any  part  of  their  property 
which  is  not  in  demand ;  but  it  is  thought  by  your  Committee, 
that  the  land  lying  on  the  Street  leading  to  South  Boston  Bridge, 
the  Lot  opposite  to  the  mall,  and  the  land  on  Beacon  Hill,  may 
be  Sold  at  as  high  a  price  as  it  will  probably  produce  at  any 
future  da}^,  especially  when  it  be  considered  that  it  produces  no 
income,  and  the  loss  to  the  Town,  from  Keeping  the  land  in  an 
unproductive  state,  is  not  less  than  1500  dollars  Per  Annum; 
and  your  Committee  are  further  of  opinion,  that  the  erection  of 
valuable  houses  on  the  said  vacant  lands,  will  not  only  furnish  a 
new  f  and  for  taxation  but  will  promote  the  growth  and  prosperity 
of  the  Town. — 

The  Committee  would  remark  as  a  further  inducement  to  this 
sale,  that  if  the  lands  thus  disposed  of  should  produce  the  sum  at 
which  they  are  estimated,  it  would  reduce  the  present  large 
balance  due  from  the  Town,  to  a  sum  not  much  exceeding  20,000 
dollars  which  might  easily  be  sunk  in  the  taxes  to  two  years  — 
As  to  the  2*^.  point  the  collection  of  taxes,  no  argument  need  be 
used,  beyond  the  simple  state  of  facts  to  prove,  that  the  present 
mode  is  most  deficient,  wasteful,  and  ruinous. — 

[453.]  A  defect  in  the  Collection  of  109,000  Dollars,  not 
more  than  43,000  of  which  is  for  the  last  year,  and  the  whole  of 
which  has  been  due  more  than  four  Months  and  some  of  it  several 
years  without  interest,  speaks  a  language  which  cannot  and  ought 
not  to  be  mistaken. — 

In  what  manner  is  this  to  be  remedied? 

Two  considerations  have  suggested  themselves  to  your 
Committee. — 

The  one  to  abolish  the  premium  paid  to  the  wealthy  part  of  the 
community  for  doing  what  the  law  and  the  moral  obligation 
arising  from  the  duty  they  owe  the  Town,  would  induce  them  to 
do  without  such  Premium. — 

The  other  by  altering  the  times  and  mode  of  Collection  to 
insure  as  much  punctuality  in  the  Collection  of  the  Town  taxes, 
as  is   found  in  the  Collection  of  the  taxes  due  to  the  United 


290  City  Document  No.  115. 

States,  which  a,re  surely  not  of  a  more  imperious  or  important 
nature. — 

As  to  the  first  it  originated  in  a  disposition  to  Change  a 
delatory  &  injurious  mode  of  Collection,  which  had  formerly 
crept  into  the  practices  of  the  Town.  — 

The  opulent  were  bribed  by  the  tender  of  a  premium  to  do 
that  which  their  own  best  interests  and  their  patriotism  ought  to 
have  induced  them  to  do  without  it.  — 

What  would  be  thought  of  an  individual  heavily  in  debt  who, 
when  he  had  large  sums  of  money  fairly  due  from  his  neighbours, 
should  offer  them  a  [454]  premium  to  pay  the  debts  they  had 
voluntarily  Contracted?  what  still  more  be  thought  of  such 
a  man  if  like  this  Town  he  paid  an  high  usurious  interest  for 
money  which  he  borrowed  of  his  debtor,  who  had  then  owed  him 
the  same  sum  more  than  six  months  ? 

But  if  the  Town  must  resort  to  loans  to  anticipate,  the  Collection 
of  its  just  debts,  is  there  no  mode  of  procuring  them  short  of  an 
usurious  premium?  Is  the  Credit  of  this  opulent  Town  whose 
Corporate  property  vastly  exceeds  its  debts,  and  may  be  reason a- 
ably  estimated  at  half  a  million  of  dollars,  so  low  that  it  is  unable 
to  procure  money  on  a  pledge  of  its  taxes,  short  of  one  p^  Cent 
per  month? 

If  this  indeed  be  the  case,  we  ought  to  blush  that  the  Town 
cannot  find  among  its  citizens  a  man  of  ordinary  financial  abilities, 
or  of  a  moderate  share  of  public  spirit. — 

But  this  is  not  so.  The  mischief  has  been  tolerated,  because 
it  was  not  the  peculiar  duty  of  any  individual  to  remedy  it.  — 
The  inhabitants  voluntarily  inflicted  the  penalty  upon  themselves  ; 
they  have  suffered  enough  for  it;  they  have  paid  more  than 
20,000  dollars  in  premiums  to  their  own  debtors,  because  they 
would  not  as  all  other  Towns  do,  compel  them  to  pay. — 

But  our  citizens  will  wish,  we  hope,  to  wipe  away  this  stain ; 
they  will  pay  in  future  cheerfully  without  a  premium,  after  having 
been  indulged  Six  Months  from  the  first  of  May  when  the  tax  is 
presumed  to  be  Assessed. — 

For  what  debt  is  there  more  honorably  obligatory  than  that  due 
to  the  Town. — 

[455.]  It  is  incurred  for  the  education  of  our  children  ;  for 
the  preservation  of  our  health ;  for  the  godlike  charity  of  Sup- 
porting our  poor ;  for  the  preservation  of  our  lives  &  limbs  by 
repairing  and  lighting  our  Streets.  These  form  three  quarters  of 
our  annual  expenditure. — 

The  money  ought  to  be  paid  at  sight ;  such  is  the  law  of  the 
State ;  such  is  the  usage  of  many  prudent  Towns  ;  such  if  it  were 
not  the  law,  would  be  our  interest  &  our  duty.  Let  us  then 
apply  to  the  Legislature  to  repeal  this  premium  paid  to  the  rich 
&  let  them  vie  with  each  other  in  the  punctuality  of  discharging 
their  debts,  their  most  solemn  debts  to  the  Town,  debts  equally 
Important  as  those  due  to  the  banks,  or  to  the  United  .States. — 

But  lest  principles  of  patriotism  may  not  have  their  full  effect, 


Boston  Town  Records,  1811,  291 

the  Committee  proceed  to  recommend  under  the  second  head  of 
improvement  in  the  Collection  of  taxes. — 

1^*.  The  appointment  of  four  assistant  collectors,  who  shall  be 
allowed  in  addition  to  the  fees  of  Office  the  sum  of  Three  hundred 
Dollars  per  Annum  each. — 

It  will  be  perceived  that  the  premiums  paid  to  the  Opulent  and 
the  punctual  have  amounted  to  3200  dollars  per  Annum,  and  of 
course  that  these  salaries  if  the  premiums  are  abolished  will  still 
leave  the  Town  better  by  the  sum  of  two  thousand  dollars. — 

[456.]  2*^^^.  It  is  proposed  that  all  the  taxes  shall  be  paid 
in  without  any  exception  at  the  end  of  Sixty  days  after  the  deliv- 
ery of  the  tax  bills  —  This  it  will  be  perceived  is  only  Sixty  days 
sooner  than  the  inhabitants  are  now  obliged  to  pay  them,  &  if  we 
deduct  ten  days  for  Notices  as  has  been  usually  allowed,  the  loss 
to  the  Town  will  be  fifty  days  only. —  After  the  first  year  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  tax  will  not  recur  at  an  earlier  period  to  the  citi- 
zen, as  the  burthen  is  to  be  born  every  year,  and  only  once  in 
each  year. — 

At  the  expiration  of  the  Seventy  days  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  Town  Treasurer  to  issue  his  warrants  ;  after  which  every  man 
who  has  not  paid  his  tax  will  be  subjected  to  the  payment  of  the 
fees  of  Collection,  which  will  amount  to  nearly  five  per  Cent,  and 
the  same,  shall  be  notified  to  each  inhabitant  on  the  tax  bill,  and 
that  if  the  same  shall  not  be  paid  at  the  expiration  of  the  ten 
days,  that  warrants  shall  issue  therefore.  This  it  is  believed 
will  be  as  powerful  a  Consideration  with  those  who  now  receive 
the  premium  as  the  premium  itself. 

All  classes  of  the  community  will  reap  an  advantage  from  this 
System  by  the  improvement  of  the  Credit  of  the  Town  and  by 
the  consequent  diminution  of  future  taxes. 

B^^^  It  is  proposed  by  the  Committee  that  the  Assessors  should 
be  enjoined  to  issue  the  tax  bills  on  or  before  the  first  day  of 
September  in  each  year,  and  if  any  additional  expence  of  Clerk 
hire  shall  be  thereby  incurred,  that  the  same  shall  be  paid  by  the 
Town. — 

The  reasons  which  have  induced  the  Committee  [457]  to 
urge  this  anticipation  of  the  taxes  are,  that  the  Season  of  labour 
is  the  period  of  profit  to  almost  all  Classes  of  the  people ;  that 
the  winter  is  the  moment  of  repose  in  which  many  Citizens  are 
obliged  to  Consume  the  fruits  of  their  summer  industry ;  that 
they  can  pay  with  more  ease  while  they  are  in  the  receipt  of 
money ;  but  more  especially  because  hundreds  of  labourers  who 
are  taxed,  collect  during  the  Summer  the  mOney  of  the  Citizens 
of  this  town  &  in  Autumn  fly  away  with  it  to  their  own  home, 
without  Contributing  towards  the  public  burden  of  those  who 
have  protected  and  paid  them.->— 

Lastly.  The  Collector  shall  be  directed  to  issue  his  warrants 
for  the  Collecting  of  all  taxes  now  in  arrear  without  any  delay  or 
distinction. — 

The  Committee  have  given  to   this  subject  all  the  thought  & 


292  City  Document  No.  116. 

reflection  in  their  power.  They  have  had  two  objects  in  view, 
from  w^hich  they  have  not  Swerved. — 

The  one  to  retrieve  the  Credit  of  the  Town,  to  diminish  ac- 
cumulated debt,  to  prevent  the  recurrence  of  such  accumulation 
in  future. — 

The  Second  to  withdraw  from  certain  Classes  of  Citizens  a 
premium  for  doing  their  duty,  a  i-eward  for  paying  what  both 
the  law,  their  own  sense  of  duty  and  the  public  interest,  would 
have  induced  them  to  pay  without. 

In  effecting  these  objects  they  have  recurred  to  the  old  and 
well  approved  mode  of  Collecting  the  taxes  by  Special  Collectors. 
A  mode  which  the  late  Act  authorizing  the  Town  Treasurer  to 
Collect  [458]  them,  never  intended  to  abolish,  for  that  Act 
authorized  him  to  appoint  such  Assistant  Collectors,  and  the 
Committee  simply  recommend  the  enforcement  of  that  law. — 

If  the  joint  and  disinterested  efforts  of  a  Committee  freely 
chosen  from  every  part  of  the  Town,  representing  local  as  well  as 
general  interest,  shall  be  productive  of  any  partial  or  Intensive 
good  they  shall  be  happy ;  if  not,  they  shall  enjoy  the  con- 
sciousness of  well  meant  and  assiduous  efforts  for  the  promo- 
tion of  the  interests  of  the  town,  in  whose  prosperity  they  are 
individually  deeply  concerned. — 


All  which  is  respectfully  submitted  to  the  candid 

consideration 

of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  town  by  their  Committee. 

— 

•Josiah  Snelling,  Ward  IS 

°.  1. 

R.  Webster, 

'     2. 

Ephraim  Eliot, 

'    3. 

John  Brown, 

'    -i. 

William  Alline, 

'    5. 

Neh^'  Parsons, 

'     6. 

Step  :  Codman, 

'     7. 

John  Lowell, 

'    8. 

Isaac  Win  slow, 

'     9. 

Joseph  Tilden, 

'  10. 

I.  P.  Davis, 

Tho  ri-anfloTnpn   plpotprl  in  this  Ward       -       .       _       _ 

'  11. 

15^ 

did  not  attend.  — 

Boston  May  14*^^.  1811.  — 

The    foregoing    Report   having   been    read    & 
debated,  it  was  unanimously  accepted  by  the  Town.  — 

on  Motion  of  John  Lowell  Esq.  — 

Voted,  that  it  is  expedient,  that  some  measures  be  adopted  to 
lessen  the  debt  due  from  the  Town,  and  [459]  to  prevent  as 
far  as  possible  the  recurrence  of  such  a  balance  against  the  Town 
in  future. — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1811.  293 

Voted,  That  Josiah  Snelling 

Redford  Webster      Ephraim  Eliot 

John  Brown  Wilham  Alhne 

Neh^  Parsons  Stephen  Codman 

John  Lowell  Isaac  Winslow 

Joseph  Tilden  Isaac  P.  Davis  & 

Joshua  Davis  Esqrs.  he  a  Committee  with  full  power 
and  authority  to  dispose  of  the  land  on  Beacon  Hill,  of  the  lot 
opposite  to  the  Mall  and  of  the  land  lying  on  the  Street  leading 
from  Orange  Street  to  the  South  Bridge,  at  public  Auction  at 
such  time  as  they  shall  deem  most  beneficial  for  the  Town,  and 
upon  such  sale  to  make  &  execute  good  deeds  thereof  in  fee  Sim- 
ple with  warranty  and  that  the  proceeds  of  such  Sale  Shall  be  & 
the  same  hereby  are  appropriated  to  the  liquidation  &  satisfac- 
tion of  the  debts  due  by  the  Town.  — 

Voted,  That  it  is  expedient  to  abolish  the  premium  heretofore 
paid  to  those  who  pay  their  Taxes  within  certain  limited  periods 
after  the  delivery  of  the  tax  bills  &  that  the  Representatives  of 
this  Town  in  the  General  Court  be  requested  to  procure  a  repeal 
of  any  part  of  any  law  or  Act  which  has  heretofore  allowed  & 
permitted  such  premiums.  — 

Voted,  That  in  future,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Assessors  to 
issue  the  tax  bills  on  or  before  the  first  day  of  September  in  each 
year,  and  within  Sixty  days  thereafter  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
Town  Treasurer  to  issue  his  Notifications  to  each  person  who 
shall  be  Assessed  and  whose  taxes  shall  not  have  been  wholly 
abated,  and  if  such  person  shall  not  pay  his  taxes  within  [460] 
ten  days  after  the  receipt  of  Such  Notification  or  the  Service 
thereon  upon  him  in  the  usual  form,  the  Treasurer  Shall  issue  his 
warrant  for  Such  taxes  directed  to  the  Special  Collector  herein 
after  mentioned  who  shall  be  held  to  Collect  the  Same  before  the 
return  day  of  Such  Warrant  —  and  that  the  Representatives  of 
the  Town  be  requested  to  apply  to  the  Legislature  for  Such 
amendment  of  the  laws  for  the  collection  of  taxes  in  this  Town 
as  may  be  necessary  to  carry  the  foregoing  vote  into  effect.  — 

Voted,  that  the  Town  Treasurer  be  recommended  to  appoint  in 
pursuance  of  the  authority  vested  in  him  by  law  Four  deputy  Col- 
lectors who  Shall  give  bond  for  the  faithful  execution  of  their 
trust  —  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  Such  Collectors  to  Collect  and 
receive  the  Taxes  committed  to  them  to  Collect,  for  which  they 
Shall  receive  the  premium  or  compensation  from  the  persons 
named  in  the  warrants  to  them  committed  which  Constables  are 
now  entitled  by  law  to  Charge  &  receive,  and  pay  over  the  Sums 
so  Collected  to  the  Town  Treasurer.  — 

Voted,  that  as  an  inducement  to  the  Said  Collectors  to  be 
vigilant  and  faithful  in  the  execution  of  Said  trust,  there  be 
granted  to  them   annuallj^  the   Sum  of  twelve  hundred  Dollars 


294  City  Document  No.  115. 

which  Sum  Shall  be  divided  among  the  said  Collectors  in  pro- 
portion to  the  Sum  which  he  or  they  shall  respectively  Collect  in 
each  year.  — 

Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the  Gentlemen 
Composing  the  Committee  from  the  Several  Wards  for  their 
faithful  Services.  — 

[461.]  The  Committee  appointed  to  Audit  the  Towns 
Accounts,  have  attended  that  Service  and  ask  leave  to  report  — 
That  they  have  examined  the  Town  Treasurers  Accounts,  and  find 
them  right  cast  and  well  vouched,  that  a  balance  remained  in  his 
hands  of  the  Sum  of  Eighteen  hundred  and  twenty  Seven  dollars 
five  Cents  on  the  first  day  of  May  instant  which  is  carried  to  the 
Credit  of  the  Town  in  his  New  Accounts.  — 

The  Committee  report  as  their  opinion  that  it  will  be  expe- 
dient for  the  Town  to  grant  a  tax  of  Seventy  Three  Thousand 
&  five  hundred  Dollars  to  be  Assessed  on  the  inhabitants,  to 
defray  the  expences  of  the  Town  the  Current  Year  agreeable  to 
the  following  estimates.  — 

To  meet  the  Selectmens  drafts  ------_  $50,000 — 

Overseers  of  the  Poor .__.  25,000 — 

Board  of  Health     -     -     - ■-  7,000— 

Interest  due  on  Notes  due  to  Banks  &  individuals  -  3,500 — 


Remains  DolP. 73,500— 

to  be  provided  for.  — 

all  which  is  Submitted.  — 

Boston  May  24"^  1811. 

Signed 

William  Brown. 
Stephen  Codman. 
Samuel  Brown. 

The  foregoing  Report  was  read  &  accepted.  — 

Voted,  That  the  Sum  of  Seventy  three  thousand  &  five  hundred 
Dollars,  be  raised  by  a  tax  to  be  Assessed  [463]  on  the  Polls 
&  Estates  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town,  to  defray  the  Expences 
of  the  Current  year.  — 

Voted,  That  the  Sum  of  8484  dollars  &  28  Cents  now  appear- 
ing on  the  Town  Treasurers  Books  as  due  to  Trustees  of  Neck 
Land,  be  appropriated  towards  the  discharge  of  the  Towns  debts, 
and  all  Monies  received  in  future  to  be  Appropriated  to  the  Same 
purpose.  — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1811.  295 

Voted,  That  the  Petition  from  the  Inhabitants  of  South  Bos- 
ton respecting  SchooUng  their  Children  be  referred  to  the  School 
Committee,  who  are  hereby  requested  to  pay  an  immediate  atten- 
tion to  the  same,  and  to  make  such  provision  for  the  same,  as 
they  shall  think  reasonable.  — 

Theophilus  Curtis  — 

was    Chosen    Hogreeve    &    Hayward   in  place    of   John   Deluce 
resigned. — 

It  is  ordered  —  and  the  Selectmen  are  hereby  directed  & 
Impowered  to  appoint  or  license  from  time  to  time  suitable 
persons  to  be  sweepers,  scrapers,  &  cleansers  of  Chimneys  in 
this  Town,  and  whose  several  Apprentices,  shall  wear  proper 
badges,  to  be  appointed  by  the  Selectmen,  &  whose  wages,  for 
their  work  &  Services  in  Cleansing  Chimneys,  the  rates  from 
time  to  time  to  be  fixed  &  appointed  by  the  Selectmen.  — 

Voted,  That  Hon.  William  Brown  Stephen  Codman  Esq.  Hon. 
Thomas  Dawes,  William  Hammett  &  Oliver  Keating  Esqrs.  be  a 
Committee  to  consider  of  the  various  modes  that  may  be 
adopted  of  removing  the  filth  of  Town,  and  to  examine  the  places 
from  which  Wharf es  may  be  built  [463]  for  that  purpose,  and 
that  they  have  power  to  purchase  one  or  more  suitable  places  if 
that  should  be  found  necessary,  &  report  their  doings  to  the 
Board  of  Health  &  Selectmen. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Seven  hundred  and  fifty  Dollars,  be 
allowed  &  paid  unto  Hon.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  for  his  Salary  as 
Judge  of  the  Municipal  Court  the  present  year. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  fifteen  hundred  Dollars  be  allowed  & 
paid  unto  William  Smith  Esq.  as  Treasurer  and  Collector  of 
Taxes  the  present  year  he  to  pay  his  Clerk,  Assistant,  Office  hire, 
and  all  other  expence  of  Office. — 

Voted,  That  the  Sum  of  One  Thousand  Dollars  be  allowed  & 
paid  unto  Thomas  Clark  for  his  Salary  as  Town  Clerk  the  year 
ensuing. 

Voted,  that  the  Sum  of  Five  hundred  Dollars  be  allowed  & 
paid  unto  the  Town  Advocate  for  his  Salary  the  year  ensuing,  he 
to  account  with  the  Town  for  all  fees  received  by  him.  — 

Voted,  that  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the 
Moderator. — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


296  City  Document  No.  115. 

[464.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  in  Public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the  4*^  Day  of 
July  A.D.  1811.  9  O'Clock  A.M.— 

Thomas  Clark 
was  Chosen  Moderator.  — 

The  Committee  appointed  the  last  year  to  make  choice  of  a 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  Indepen- 
dence —  Reported  — 

That  they  had  Chosen  James  Savage  Esq. 
who  has  accepted  of  the  Appointment.  — 

Adjourned    to    the  Old  South  Church  — 
12  O'clock  when 

AN  ORATION 

was  dehvered  by  James  Savage *Esq.   to  commemorate  the  Inde- 
pendence of  the  United  States  of  America.  — 

Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be,  and  hereby  are  appointed  a 
Committee  to  wait  on  James  Savage  Esq.  in  the  name  of  the 
Town,  and  thank  him  for  the  elegant  and  spirited  Oration,  this 
day  delivered  by  him  at  the  request  of  the  Town,  upon  the  anni- 
versary of  American  Independence  in  which  were  considered  the 
feelings,  manners,  and  principles,  which  produced  the  great 
national  event ;   and  to  request  of  him  a  copy  for  the  press.  — 

Voted,  That  the  Gentlemen  be,  and  hereby  are  appointed  a 
Committee,  to  apply  to  some  able  learned  Gentleman  to  deliver 
an  Oration  on  the  4"^  day  of  July  1812 — That  day  being  the 
anniversary  of  the  Independence  of  the  [465]  United  States  of 
America,  wherein  the  Orator  is  to  consider  the  feelings,  manners, 
and  principles  which  led  to  the  great  National  Event ;  as  well 
as  the  important  &  happy  effects,  whether  General  or  Domestic, 
which  have  already,  or  will  forever  flow  from  that  Auspicious 
Epoch. — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  &  other  luhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  duly  qualified  &  legally  warned  in  Public  Town 
Meeting  Assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  11"^  Day  of 
November  A.  D.  1811  —  10,  O'Clock  A.  M. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read . 

Charles  Bulfinch  Esq.  chosen  Moderator. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1812.  297 

This  Meeting  was  called  in  conformity  to  a  Law  of  this  Com- 
monwealth, Regulating  the  Selection  of  Grand,  Traverse  &  petit 
Jurors.  — 

The  Law  of  March  12"\  1808.  &  the  Law  respecting  Engine 
Men  passed  November  17"\  1808,  being  read. —  it  was  Voted, 
that  it  is  expedient  to  excuse  all  Engine  Men  fi-om  serving  as 
Jurors.  — 

The  Selectmen  laid  before  the  Town  the  names  of  two  lists  of 
Persons  they  had  selected,  [466]  one  to  serve  as  Grand  &  Tra- 
verse Jurors  at  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  &  the  other  to  serve 
as  Petit  Jurors  at  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  — 

The  foregoing  Report  being  considered  —  it  was  moved  & 
Voted.     That  the  Town  confirm  the  doings  of  the  Selectmen.  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


1813. 

[467.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  male  Citizens  of  the  Town  of 
Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  pubhc  Town  Meet- 
ing assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  ninth  day  of 
March  AD.  1812  —  10  O'Clock  A.M.  and  by  adjournment  at 
3  O'clock  P.M.  on  the  same  day — Prayer  by  the  Rev*^.  Mr. 
Thacher. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read  — 

Stephen  Codman  Esq. 
chosen  Moderator.  — 

Laws,  &  Extracts  of  Laws  —  read.  — 

Thomas  Clark 
was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  year  ensuing  —  the  Oath  of  Office 
was  administered  to  him  by  Stephen  Codman  Esq. 

Charles  Bulfinch  Francis  Wright 

Ebenezer  Oliver  Joseph  Foster 

Jonathan  Hunnewell  Nathan  Webb 

John  May  Benjamin  Weld  and 

Joseph  Lovering  Esquires 
were  chosen  Selectmen  for  the  year  ensuing.  — 

Voted  unanimously.  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to 
William  Porter  Esq.  for  his  faithful  services  as  one  of  the  Select- 
men for  fourteen  years  past. 


298 


City  Document  No.  115. 


[468.]  Voted,  That  the  choice  of  County  and  Town  Treas- 
urers and  Collector  be  postponed  to  an  adjournment  of  this 
Meeting ;  and  that  a  Committee  be  chosen  to  examine  the  state 
of  the  Town  Treasury  &  to  request  of  the  Court  of  the  General 
Sessions  of  the  peace  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  a  statement  of  the 
affairs  of  the  County  Treasury — and  to  consider  the  expediency 
of  uniting  the  office  of  County  &  Town  Treasurer  in  the  same 
person  and  to  report  at  an  Adjournment. 

The  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen  a  Committee  in  consequence 
of  the  foregoing  vote  —  viz. 


Josiah  Snelhng, 
Ephraim  Elliot, 
William  Alline, 
Stephen  Codman 
Isaac  Winslow, 
Isaac  P.  Davis 


Redford  Webster, 
John  Brown, 
Nehemiah  Parsons, 
John  Lowell, 
Joseph  Tilden,    & 
Joshua  Davis  Esqs. 


Voted,  That  the  Committee  Report  on  the  second  Monday  of 
April  next,  being  the  thirteenth  day  of  said  Month. 

Voted,  That  the  Committee  be  requested  to  have  their  report 
printed  and  distributed  for  the  information  of  the  Inhabitants, 
one  week  at  least  before  the  said  second  Monday  in  April  next.  — 


William  Smith 

William  Phillips 

Redford  Webster 
[469.]   Thomas  Perkins 

Samuel  Snelling 

Oziah  Goodwin 
were  chosen  Overseers  of  the  Poor. 


Joseph  Coolidge  Jun'. 
Joseph  Richards 
Bryant  P.  Tilden 
William  Mackay 
Ephraim  Elliot  and 
Jonathan  Phillips  Esquires, 


Thomas  Melvill 
Andrew  Cunningham 
John  Winslow 
Stephen  Codman 
John  Bray 
Jon^.  Hunnewell 
Dan\  Messinger 
William  Sullivan 
Benjamin  Smith 
Nath'.  Curtiss 
Edward  Cruft 
James  PhilUps 
were  chosen  Firewards. — 


Bryant  P.  Tilden 
Nathan  Webb 
Geo.  Blcnchard 
Sami.  M.  Thayer 
Joseph  Tilden 
Thomas  Page 
Joseph  Austin 
[470.]    Benj^.  Rich 

Joseph  Lovering 
Francis  J.  Oliver 
Gidney  King  and 
John  D.  Williams  Esqrs. 


Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Joseph  May, 
Joseph  Head,  Benjamin  Coates,  and  Ignatius  Sargent  Esqrs,  for 
their  faithful  services  as  Firewards  for  many  years  past. — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1812. 


299 


Voted,  That  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  twelve  persons  shall 
now  be  chosen  a  School  Committee  ;  and  the  votes  being  collected 
it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen,  viz. 
Rev*^.  W.  E.  Channing  Rev*^.  Joseph  S.  Buckmiuster,  Rev^. 
Ch^  Lowell, 


Dr.  Aaron  Dexter, 

Arnold  Welles  Esq. 
David  Greene.  Esq, 
John  Heard  Esq, 

and  Charles  Davis  Esq. 


Dr.  Tho^  Welsh 
W"\  Smith  Esq. 
John  Phillips  Esq. 
William  Prescott  Esq. 


Voted,  That  the  above  named  Gentlemen  who  conjunctly  with  the 
Selectmen,  are  termed  the  School  Committee,  be  and  hereby  are 
directed  to  carry  the  system  of  Education  adopted  by  the  Town 
into  operation ;  and  that  said  Committee  be  also  authorised  & 
empower'd  conjunctly  to  manage  and  regulate  the  Government  of 
the  Schools  :  and  to  execute  all  the  powers  relative  to  the  Schools 
&  [471]  School  Masters  which  the  Selectmen  or  such  Commit- 
tees as  are  authorised  by  the  Laws  of  the  Commonwealth  or  by 
votes  of  the  town  to  exercise. — 


Messrs.  Benjamin  White 
John  Cogswell 
W»\  Clouston 
W".  Ellison 
Nathi.  Bradlee  Ju^ 
Noah  Doggett 
Brad'^.  Loring 
Tho^  Christie 
William  Green 
Eleazer  Homer 

were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Boai 


Messrs.  Joseph  Stodder 
Allen  Bowker 
W'".  Elhson  Jun"". 
Nath^.  Glover 
John  Howe  Jun'". 
Rich-i.  Thayer 
Ed.  J.  Robbins 
Henry  Blake 
Joseph  Tucker 
Moses  Eayres  Jun"^ 
ds  &  other  Lumber. — 


Messrs.  Henry  Purkett 
Nath^.  Howe 
John  Smith  & 
James    Eunson, 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Hoops  and  Staves. — 


Messrs.  Thomas  Barbour 

Nath^  Howe 

Benj  Clark 

Gershom  Spear 

James  Eunson 

William  Lovis 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Dry  Fish. 


Messrs.  Charles  Pook 
John  Bannister 
John  Smith 
Sam\  Smith 
Tho^.  Lewis  and 


Messrs.  Benj^.  White 

William  Ellison  and 
Nath^.  Bradlee  Jun^ 
were  chosen  Fence  Viewers. — 


300  City  Document  No.  115. 

[473.]  Messrs.  Joseph  Cobbett     Messrs.  Rufus  Harrington  and 

John  Deluce  Israel  Mead  Jun"^. 

were  chosen  Hogreeves. 

Messrs.  Joseph  Cobbett  Messrs.  Rufus  Harrington  and 

John  Deluce,  (resign'd)  Israel  Mead 

were  chosen  Haywards. 

Samuel  Emmons  and 
James  Phillips  Esqrs., 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Hemp. 

Edward  Tuckerman  and 
Josiah  Snelling  Esqrs. 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Wheat. — 

Messrs.  John  Wells,  and 
Richard  Austin 
were  chosen  Assay  Masters. — 

The  Selectmen  were  chosen  Surveyors  of  High  Way. 

Messrs.  Francis  James, 

Michael  Homer,  and 
Samuel  Sprague  — 
were  chosen  Inspectors  of  Lime. — 

Voted,  That  Samuel  Brown,  W™.  Brown,  &  Stephen  Codman 
Esqrs.  be,  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  audit  the 
accounts  of  the  Town  Treasurer,  and  also  those  of  the  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor,  &  the  Board  of  Health.  And  said  Committee 
are  directed  to  report  the  sum  necessary  to  be  raised  for  the  ser- 
^aces  of  the  present  year. — 

Voted,  That  the  consideration  of  all  money  matters  [473]  be 
referred  to  the  next  May  Meeting. — 

Adjourned  to  Monday  the  13*^  day  of  April  next. 
10  o'clock  A.M.— 

At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
of  twenty  one  years  of  age  and  upwards  qualified  as  the  Consti- 
tution prescribes  &  legally  warned,  in  public  Town  Meeting 
assembled,  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  6^^  day  of  April  A.D. 
1812.     9  O'clock  A.M.— 

Prayer  by  the  Rev*^.  Dr.  Lathrop. — 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  read. — 

Paragraphs  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government,  rela- 


Boston  Town  Records,  1812.  301 

tive  to    the    choice    of  Governour,    Lieutenant   Governour,   and 
Senators,  read  — 

also  the  Law  for  new  districting  the  Commonwealth,  passed  the 
present  year,  read. — 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen,  that  no  Vote  should  be 
received  but  such  as  are  unfolded.  That  the  Poll  shall  be  closed 
at  half  past  2  O' Clock  P.M.  and  that  the  Bells  begin  tolling  at 
2  O'clock  and  continue  for  half  an  hour. — 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Governor  with  the  number  of  Votes  for 
each  person  —  viz  — 

His  Excy.  Elbridge  Gerry  -     -     -     -     -     -     -     1833. 

Hon  Caleb  Strong 3830. 

W™  Gray  1.     W™  Heath  1. 

J  Q  Adams  1.     S  m^  Dexter  1. 

Theodore  Sedgwick  1.     Francis  Wilby  1. 

[474.]  Persons  Voted  for  as  Lieutenant  Governor,  with  the 
number  of  votes  for  each  person  —  viz. 

Hon  William  Phillips 3836. 

Hon  William  King 1820. 

Joseph  B.  Varnum  1.     W™  Gray  1. 

W"^  Heath  1.     H.  G.  Otis  1.     Joseph  Storey  1. 

Aaron  Paine  1.     Jabez  Whiting  1.     Ez.  A.  Bourne  1. 

Persons  Voted  for  as  Senators  for  the  district  of  Suffolk,  with 
the  number  of  votes  for  each  person,  viz. — 

Hon\  H.  G.  Otis 3828 

Hon'.  John  Phillips      - -     -     3831 

Honi.  John  Welles        ---------     3832 

Hon^  Peter  C  Brooks 3829 

Hon^  Israel  Thorndike -     3820 

Hon^  David  Tilden -     -     1826 

Sam^.  Brown  Esq.    - 1825 

Russell  Sturgis  Esq.     -     -     -     -     -     -     -     1825 

William  Little  Esq.       - 1818 

Mr.  Caleb  Bingham  - 1823 

W"i.  Sullivan  1.     W™.  Prescott  1.     S.  H.  Walley  1. 

Geo.  Sullivan  1.     Henry  Cutter  1. 

David  Townsend  2.     David  S.  Eaton  1. 

Jared  Austin  1.     C.  P.  Sumner  1. 

Jon**.  Harris  1.     Alex"^.  Townsend  1. 

W".  Whitwell  Jun^  1.     Geo.  Bond  1. 

Rich*!.  Sullivan  1.     Jon^.  Wild  Jun'.  1. 

Attested  Copies  of  return  of  the  persons  voted  for  as  Governor, 
Lieu'.  Governor  and  Senators  for  the  district  of  Suffolk  sealed  up 


302  City  Document  No.  115. 

in  open  Town  Meeting  after  the  vote  had  been  declared,  [475] 
to  be  transmitted  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  as  pre- 
scribed by  the  Law,  and  directed  as  follows  viz.  — 

To  Benjamin  Homans  Esq. 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

Votes  of  the  Town  of  Boston  for  Governor  and  Lieutenant 
Governor  &  Five  Senators  for  the  district  of  Suffolk,  sealed  up 
in  open  Town  Meeting.  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Male  Citizens  of  the  Town  of  Boston  on 
Monday  the  13*'^.  day  of  April  A.D.  1812.  Held  by  adjourn- 
ment from  Monday  the  ninth  day  of  March  last. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Town  at  their  meeting  on  the 
ninth  day  of  March  last,  to  examine  the  state  of  the  Town  Treas- 
ury and  the  affairs  of  the  County  Treasury,  have  attended  to  the 
duties  assigned  them,  and  beg  leave  to  report. 

That  the  approbation  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  town  expressed 
towards  the  persons  who  formed  the  Committee  on  the  finances  of 
the  Town  the  last  year,  [476]  not  only  by  the  adoption  of  all 
the  measures,  which  that  Committee  recommended,  but  also  by 
the  reelection  of  the  same  individuals  for  the  same  duties  the 
present  year,  affords  to  them  the  highest  satisfaction,  and  has 
induced  them  to  persevere  in  their  exertions  to  restore  the  finan- 
cial affairs  of  the  Town  to  a  state  of  prosperity  and  order.  — 

It  will  be  seen  by  a  recurrence  to  the  Report  of  the  Committee 
of  the  last  year,  that  the  principal,  if  not  the  only  cause  of  the 
derangements  of  the  Towns  prudential  concerns,  was  the  imper- 
fect manner  in  which  the  past  taxes  had  been  collected.  It  will 
be  perceived  that  the  Town  have  always  voted  sufficient  sums  to 
meet  all  the  public  exigences,  if  the  amount  voted  had  been  in 
all  cases  or  could  have  been  promptly  collected.  — 

But  from  some  imperfection  in  the  system  of  collection  it  had 
unfortunately  happened,  that  while  the  Town  was  paying  interest 
for  a  sum  not  less  than  50,000  Dollars,  and  the  County,  which 
may  be  considered  almost  in  the  same  light  as  the  Town,  was 
indebted  to  individuals  or  the  Banks  nearly  to  the  same  amount, 
there  was  due  from  individuals  to  the  Town  on  account  of  past 
taxes,  the  enormous  sum  of  109,000  dollars  ;  and  what  aggravated 
this  evil  in  the  minds  of  your  Committee,  the  Town  was  found  to 
pay  an  usurious  douceur  to  its  debtors,  not  for  the  anticipation  of 
their  taxes,  but  for  the  [477]  performance  of  their  duty,  while 
it  could  demand  no  interest  from  those  who  were  delinquent  in 
the  payment  of  their  taxes  to  the  Town. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1812.  303 

The  Committee  having  ascertained  to  their  satisfaction  that 
the  above  mentioned  defect  in  the  collection  of  the  taxes  was  the 
prolific  cause  of  the  embarassment  of  the  Towns  affairs,  recom- 
mended a  remedy  which  they  flattered  themselves  would  be 
effectual. 

If  the  remedy  had  failed,  as  it  was  a  new  experiment  in  a  case 
of  some  difficulty  and  delicacy,  you  Committee  trust  that  such 
failure  would  not,  by  a  liberal  &  discerning  people,  have  been 
attributed  to  them. 

If  on  the  other  hand,  it  shall  appear  to  have  been  successful  be- 
yond even  the  hopes  and  promises  of  your  Committee,  they  are 
not  disposed  to  assume  to  themselves  any  merit  from  a  measure 
which  appeared  to  them  to  be  pointed  out  by  the  simplest  and 
most  ordinary  dictates  of  prudence  and  policy. 

Your  Committee  cannot  give  to  their  fellow-citizens  more  sat- 
isfactory means  of  judging  of  the  effects  of  the  system  recently 
adopted  than  by  reporting  to  them  the  amount  of  taxes  laid  for 
the  five  years  last  ensuing,  and  the  amount  collected  on  each  tax 
prior  to  the  1®*.  of  March  in  each  year. 

Amount  of  tax  1807 134,231.83 

Amount  paid  1^*  March  1808      -     -     -     -         60,626.79 


Amount  unpaid  on  1^*,  March  1808  $73,605.  4 


[478.]    Tax  for  1808 102,533.33 

Amount  paid  to  March  VK  1809     -     -     -         51,722.83 


due  March  1^*  1809  -----         50,760.50 


Tax  for  1809 130,219.98 

Amount  paid  March  1«*  1810      -     -     -     -         60,267.51 


due  March  1^  1810      -     -     -     -         69,952.47 


Tax  for  1810 140,306.45 

Amount  paid  to  1«*  March  1811      -     -     -         68,848.86 


due  1  March  1811 71,457.59 


Tax  for  1811  (since  new  system)  135,792.61 

Amount  paid  to  1«' March  1812       -     -     -       116,184.79 


Due  March  1^'.  1812     -     -     -     -       $19,607.82 

Thus  it  will  be  perceived,  that  the  amount  paid  on  the  tax  of 
the  last  year,  (without  an  usurious  premium  to  the  debtors  of  the 
Town)  is  nearly  twice  as  great  as  the  average  paid  in  the  same 
period,  during  the  four  years  next  preceding,  and  the  amount 
due  to  the  town  on  account  of  the  last  years  tax  is  not  more  than 
one  third  part  as  great  as  that  of  former  years. 


50  i 


City  Document  No.  115. 


The  importance  of  this  last  idea  will  be  manifest  to  every  man 
who  reflects  that  a  very  large  proportion  of  public  and  private 
debts,  are  lost  by  delay ;  that  the  citizen  who  will  not,  or  who 
pretends  that  he  cannot  pay  his  tax  during  the  year  in  which  it  is 
assessed,  is  very  little  likely  to  pay  it  either  cheerfully  or  easily 
when  another  is  added  to  it. 

The  statement  of  the  Town  Treasurer,  which  the  Committee  will 
next  exhibit,  affords  a  most  salutary  lesson  [479]  on  this 
subject.  It  is  a  commentary  on  their  report,  which  leaves  but 
little  argument;  for  while  116,000  Dollars  out  of  135,000  have 
been  collected  on  the  last  years  tax,  the  town  Treasurer  does  not 
acknowledge  the  Receipt  of  more  than  24,000  dollars  during  the 
past  year,  out  of  the  large  sum  of  109,000  due  for  taxes,  laid  & 
assessed  preceding  the  past  year.  Your  Committee  forbear  to 
press  any  further  remarks  on  this  subject,  for  the  facts  them- 
selves are  too  plain  and  too  forcible  to  require  any  illustration. 
The  Committee  have  received  from  Town  Treasurer,  the  following 
statement  of  the  towns  affairs,  on  the  first  of  March  last. 

Received  on  outstanding  taxes 24037.94 

D°.  on  Rents      -     -     - -  6317.46 

D°.  on  Neck  Lands     -     - 990.   2 

D°.  on  Military  fines 188. — 

D".  on  Land  on  Common  street  &c      -     -  3000. — 

D°.  on  tax  for  1811    -     - 116184.79 

$150,718.21 

Cash  received  from  State,  for  States 
Poor 6225.94 

This  amount  transferred  on   Select-  ^ 
mens  drg-ft    to  Town   Treasury   by  a 
vote    of   the  Town     on     account    of 
trust  of  Neck  land J      8484.28 

Rec''.  of  Francis  Wright  Esq.  for  an 

Engine 75. 

Selectmens  draft  in  favor  of  the  New  "^ 
England  Insurance   office,  awarded  for  j 
widening  Ex[change]  lane,  paid  by  a  [»     5500. 
note    on    Interest    by    order    of    the  | 
Selectmen J        20285.22 

DolP.  171,003.43 

[480.]  Due   from  Brazer  on  Award  5000. 

D°  Notes  for  land  sold     -     -  14015. 


Selectmens  drafts  from  May  1^'  1811 

to  Feby.  1812     -     - 48312.09 

DO.  on  DO.  May  1811       -----       22037.10 

70349.19 
Amount  paid  thereon 64536.41 


5812.78 


Boston  Town  Records,  1812. 


305 


Overseers    drafts    balance    due   May 

1^1.  1811 10287.83 

D°.    drawn    from    May    1^^    1811     to 

Feby.  1812 17559.  3 

27846.86 

Amount  paid        ---...  25467.82 

Board  of  Health 

Balance  to  May  1811  -     -----  317.95 

Drafts  to  Feb^.  1812 5310.38 


Amount  paid  to  March  1^*.  1812 

Notes  payable  May  P*.  1811      -     - 

Note  to  New  England 

Insurance  office 


$5628.33 
5404.38 

50317.22 
5500. 


2379.4 


223.95 


55817.22 
Amount  paid  to  March  1^*.  1812     -     -       20496.30 

Amount  due  55320.92 

Amount  paid  County  of  Suffolk 32541.50 

Amount  paid  State  Treasurer 20081. 

Amount  due  to  the  County  of  Suffolk  61,214 

Amount  due  to  the  State 17,853 

Boston  4*^  April  1812      WiUiam  Smith 

Received -     -     -        171003.43 

Paid -     - 168527.41 

Balance  on  hand  to  New  Account $.2376.02 

From  the  above  Statement  it  appears  that  although  the  tax  of 
last  year  has  been  collected  with  an  unexampled  degree  of 
promptitude,  and  although  the  [481]  important  amount  of 
168,000  Dollars  have  been  paid  by  the  Town  Treasurer  within  ten 
months  of  the  past  year,  yet  that  the  Town  is  still  greatly  in 
arrears,  owing  as  your  Committee  conceive,  to  the  great  ballance 
still  uncollected  of  the  past  taxes,  amounting  in  the  whole  to  a 
sum  exceeding  one  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

Before  your  Committee  proceed  to  report  on  the  affairs  of  the 
County,  they  would  beg  leave  to  state,  that  they  apprehend  that 
further  and  more  energetic  measures  should  be  adopted  by  the 
Town  Treasurer  for  the  collection  of  the  arrearages  of  past  taxes, 
and  that  although  great  effects  have  been  already  produced  by  the 
prompt  measures  adopted  with  regard  to  the  taxes  of  the  last 
year,  yet  they  apprehend  that  the  votes  of  the  Town  on  that 


306  City  Document  No.  115. 

subject  have  not  been  fully  complied  with,  otherwise  there  would 
not  have  been  so  considerable  a  sum  still  due  on  the  last  years 
tax.  The  Committee  are  of  opinion,  that  a  strict  and  firm 
execution  of  the  votes  and  intention  of  the  Town  ought  not  to 
leave  on  the  first  of  March  one  dollar  uncollected  of  the  past 
years  tax.  If  there  ai'e,  as  perhaps  there  may  be,  individuals, 
overtaxed,  or  who  ^re  unable  to  pay,  the  abatements  ought  to  be 
made  before  March  so  that  the  current  years  tax  should  in  every 
instance  be  settled  before  the  Meeting  in  that  month,  either  by 
payment  or  by  abatements,  where  the  parties  are  either  unable  to 
pay  or  have  been  overcharged. 

No  individual,  and  certainly  no  corporation,  can  expect  to  have 
their  affairs  in  a  regular  and  well  ordered  state,  while  they  con- 
tinue to  suffer  the  debts  due  to  them  to  accumulate,  at  the  same 
time  that  their  expenditures  are  uniform,  and  exceed  the  amount 
actually  collected. 

[482.]  The  Committee  further  report,  that  in  pursuance  of 
the  other  branch  of  their  commission  they  made  application  to  the 
Hon^.  the  Justices  of  the  County  Court  for  permission  to  investi- 
gate the  affairs  of  the  County ;  and  that  honourable  Court,  with 
great  readiness  and  civility  was  pleased  to  authorize  four  members 
of  the  Towns  Committee  to  call  the  County  Treasurer  to  a  settle- 
ment, and  to  investigate  fully  the  state  of  the  financial  affairs  of 
the  County.  The  Gentlemen  thus  authorized  immediately  waited 
on  the  County  Treasurer ;  but  they  regret  to  state,  that  they 
found  his  state  of  health  so  feeble  as  to  render  it  absolutely 
impracticable  for  him  to  settle  his  accounts,  or  to  afford  them  the 
information  desired  by  the  Town.  — They  feel  it  however  incum- 
bent on  them  in  justice  to  a  respectable  citizen  to  state,  that  the 
County  Treasurer  claims  a  balance  against  the  Town,  and  from 
the  general  course  of  the  county  concerns,  the  small  sums  paid 
over  to  him  in  comparison  with  the  numerous  demands  upon  him 
in  his  said  capacity,  as  well  as  from  other  circumstances,  your 
Committee  have  reason  to  believe  that  he  would  be  able  to  liqui- 
date his  accounts  with  reputation  to  himself,  if  the  state  of  his 
health  would  permit. 

In  order  however,  to  enable  the  town  to  form  a  tolerably  correct 
idea  of  the  state  of  the  affairs  of  the  County,  your  Committee 
subjoin  a  statement  of  the  situation  of  the  County  debts  and 
credits  furnished  to  them  by  one  of  the  Justices  of  the  Hon^. 
County  Court  who  has  been  long  and  intimately  acquainted  with 
its  concerns,  and  who  has  generally  been  authorized  to  settle  the 
accounts  of  the  County  Treasurer. — 

[483.]     Estimate  of  Debts  due  from  the  County  of  Suffolk. — 

To  the  Union  Bank 14100 

To  the  Boston  Bank 12000 

To  the  Massachusetts  Bank  -     -     -     -  12000 

38100.— 


Boston  Town  Records,  1812. 


307 


To  several  Justices  of  the  peace 

To  the  Sheriff  on  sundry  accounts 

To  Depy  Sherifs,  Constables  &  Goaler    -     -     -     - 
To    Attorney    General    and    Solicitor    &    county 

attorney 

To  the  Coroners      --. 

To  the  Judge  of  Probate 

To  the  Physician  of  the  Goal 

To  Witnesses 

To  Jurors - 

To  Stationers  &  Binders 

To  Mechanics 

To  Tudor  for  rent 

For  want  of  documents  some  debts  omitted  say 


New  Court  house  to  complete,  viz 

Jeremiah  Gardner  on  contract    -     -     -  12000 

D°.  his  extra  Bills 2500 

14500.— 

paid  him 8300.— 

Josiah  Bemis  all  his  Bills       -     -     -     -  33000. 

paid  him     -     -     -     -     -  22500. 

Wall    for    Iron    doors    windows    and 

railing 1500. — 

Painting  &  Glazing 1000. 

Hardware  bills  --------  500. 

Plastering  and  other  Masons  work  to  ' 

finish 800. 

Slates  &  Slating  Roof 900. 

Glass    - -     -     -     -  400. 

John  Lowell,  for  land  bought  of  him  & 

Freeman 5330 


1200. 

1000. 

500. 

300. 
100. 
140. 
120. 
500. 
1000. 
152. 
250. 
138. 
500. 

$44000. 


[484.]  Amount  brought  up      -     - 
Ezekiel  Prices  heirs  for  land  unliqui- 
dated, say 

Extra  work  fitting  up  the  Offices     -     - 


10430 

10430 

1600. 
270 


6200. 


10500.— 


60700. 
60700.- 

12300. 


Submitted  by 


$73000. 


William  Donnison  Committee 


Dec'.  3V\  1811.- 


County  of  Suffolk  —  Statement  of  taxes  for  1810  &  1811.- 
whole  amount  of  the  County  tax  for  1810. 


308  City  Document  No.  115. 

Boston's  part  of  1810  tax  is  -     -     -       40489.12 
Chelsea's  part  of  1810  tax  is       -     -  510.88 


Whole  amount  of  County  tax  for  1811 

Boston's  part  of  1811  tax  is  -     -     -       44439.28 
Chelsea's  part  of  1811  tax  is       -     -  560.72 


Balance    of    tax     for    1810      unpaid, 

receivable  from  Town  of  Boston      -     -       22993.83 

whole  of  Boston's  tax  for  1811  unpaid       44439.28 


.,000.— 


t5000.— 


67433.11 


Chelsea's    part    of    County    tax  for 

1811  unpaid 560.72 


Dec'".  31.  1811.  Outstanding  $67,993.83 

From  this  statement  it  will  appear,  that  whenever  the  Town 
Treasurer  shall  have  paid  over  to  the  County  Treasurer  the  sums 
which  have  been  actually  assessed  for  County  expences,  and  a 
great  part  of  which  has  been  received,  a  very  small  ballance  only 
will  be  due  from  the  County  to  individuals,  or  to  the  Banks.  It 
is  true  that  from  this  statement  it  would  seem  that  the  County  is 
largely  indebted  to  the  Banks,  and  to  Private  persons  ;  but  it 
will  be  seen  that  as  soon  as  the  Town  Treasurer  shall  have  dis- 
charged the  proportion  of  taxes  due  to  the  County,  and  assessed 
by  the  Town,  the  amounts  due  by  the  County  will  be  very  insig- 
nificant:  and  it  is  also  necessary  to  remark  that  one  [485]  of 
the  largest  sums  in  which  the  Town  stands  indebted  is  that  which 
it  owes  to  the  County,  and  it  would  be  therefore  erroneous  to 
consider  the  whole  debt  due  from  the  Town,  and  the  debt  due 
from  the  County  as  distinct  sums,  because  as  soon  as  the  County 
Treasurer  shall  receive  from  the  Town  the  amount  due  to  the 
County,  he  will  be  enabled  to  discharge  nearly  the  whole  amount  in 
which  the  County  stands  indebted.  —  These  remarks  have  been 
more  detailed  because  an  opinion  has  prevailed  that  the  affairs  of 
the  County  were  in  a  deranged  &  embarrassed  state,  and  that  if 
examined  they  would  show,  that  the  Town  which  nearly  constitutes 
the  County,  is'much  more  largely  indebted  than  the  accounts  of 
the  Town  Treasurer  lead  us  to  suppose  :  This  idea  is  proved  to 
be  erroneous,  and  the  amount  due  from  the  Town,  it  will  be  seen, 
includes  nearly  the  whole  of  the  County  debt.  Considerable 
interest  has  been  excited  by  the  erection  of  the  New  Court 
House ;  an  edifice  called  for  by  every  consideration  of  prudence 
and  policy.  It  has  been  supposed  that  the  erection  of  this  build- 
ing would  involve  the  Town  and  county  in  enormous  expences.  — 
Your  Committee  have  investigated  that  subject,  and  after  pro- 
curing the  estimate  of  Judge  Donnison,  who  in  his  capacity  of 
Judge,  both  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  of  the  County 
Court,  has  been  more  intimately  acquainted  with  the  cost  of  this 
edifice  than  any  other  man,  as  well  as  from  the  statement  of  the 


Boston  Town  Records,  1812.  309 

agent  for  the  erection  of  the  Court  House,  your  Committee  find 
that  the  whole  cost  of  that  building  will  not  exceed  sixty  eight 
thousand  dollars.  —  It  is  also  an  agreeable  circumstance  that  the 
Committee  are  able  to  add,  that  nearly  the  whole  of  this  sum  has 
been  already  assessed  [486]  and  raised  during  the  last  three 
years,  in  so  moderate  and  judicious  a  manner,  that  it  has  not 
appeared  materially  to  increase  the  ordinary  aggregate  of  the 
Towns  taxes.  — •  when  therefore  the  outstanding  taxes  shall  have 
been  collected,  and  their  due  proportion  paid  over  to  the  County,  we 
shall  have  the  satisfaction  to  have  nearly  discharged  the  bills  for 
an  edifice  highly  ornamental  to  the  Town,  important  to  the 
convenience  of  the  Courts,  witnesses  and  Juroi's,  and  absolutely 
essential  to  the  safe  preservation  of  the  public  records.  With 
respect  to  the  expediency  of  uniting  the  two  offices  of  County  & 
Town  Treasurer  in  one  person,  the  Committee  report,  that  as  the 
law  now  stands,  this  would  be  impracticable  to  effect  by  any  vote 
of  the  Town.  The  only  effect  of  such  a  vote  would  be  a  recom- 
mendation to  the  citizens  to  unite  their  suffrages  in  the  same 
person,  and  as  the  choice  is  by  ballot,  it  will  be  perceived  that 
such  a  recommendation  might  have  but  little  effect  on  the  friends 
of  candidates  for  said  offices.  Bht  your  Committee  are  further 
of  opinion,  that  during  the  present  year  it  would  be  inexpedient 
so  to  unite  the  two  offices.  — 

The  settlement  of  the  Accounts  of  the  present  Treasurer,  and 
the  efficacious  measures  which  ought  to  be  taken  by  the  new 
Treasurer,  to  bring  about  a  system  of  order  in  the  County  affairs, 
would  for  the  current  year  fully  occupy  an  able,  intelligent,  well 
informed  accomptant,  without  permitting  him  to  attend  to  the 
united  duties  of  Town  Treasurer  &  Collector. 

Your  Committee  would,  however,  recommend  that  the  Town 
should  furnish  an  office  to  the  County  Treasurer,  adjacent  to  that 
of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Town,  and  that  the  County  Court  be 
respectfully  requested  to  enjoin  on  the  County  Treasurer  to  trans- 
act all  his  official  business  in  [487]  said  apartments.  One 
object,  among  many  others,  to  be  attained  by  such  arrangement, 
is,  that  persons  might  not  get  orders  from  the  County  Treasurer 
for  services  rendered  to  the  County  while  they  stood  indebted  to 
the  Town  for  taxes  or  otherwise. 

Your  Committee  further  report,  that  it  is  highly  expedient,  that 
the  Town  Treasurer  &  Collector  should  regularly  at  least  once  in 
every  week,  pay  over  to  the  County  Treasurer  the  proportion  due 
to  the  County  of  the  amount  received  for  taxes  during  such  week. 
We  should  then  never  witness  the  extraordinary  fact  of  the  Towns 
being  indebted  to  the  County  nearly  60,000  Dollars.  The  County 
would  not  be  obliged  to  procure  all  its  work  done  at  a  disadvanta- 
geous rate,  because  payable  only  in  orders  for  taxes ;  and  one 
step  at  least  would  be  taken  towards  the  restoration  of  order  and 
regularity,  without  which  no  true  system  of  economy  can  exist. — 

Your  Committee  conclude,  by  recommending  a  new  injunction 
on  the  Town  Treasurer,  to  cause  all  the  back  taxes  to  be  col- 
lected, where  the  assessors   shall  not  abate  them,    and  a  literal 


310  City  Document  No.  115. 

compliance  with  the  vote  of  last  spring  as  to  all  taxes  which  may- 
be hereafter  assessed. — 

It  ought  to  be  understood,  that  the  taxes  should  be  paid  with 
the  same  promptitude  as  the  duties  at  the  Custom  house,  and  the 
moment  any  indulgence  is  introduced,  an  indulgence  as  injurious 
to  the  individual  as  to  the  Town,  the  floodgates  of  disorder  are 
thrown  open,  and  the  affairs  of  the  Town  will  continue  to  be  in  a 
state  of  derangement  ill  suited  either  to  its  reputation  or  its 
interests. 

Josiah  Snelhng  N°.  1. 

R  Webster  N°.  2. 

Ephraim  Elliot  N°.  3. 

John  Brown  N°.  4. 

Wn\  Alline  N°.  5. 

Neh^.  Parsons  N°.  6. 

Stephen  Codman  N°.  7. 

Jn°.  Lowell  N°.  8. 

Isaac  Winslow  N°.  9. 

Joseph  Tilden,  N".  10. 

J.  P.  Davis  N°.  11. 

Joshua  Davis  N°.  12. 
April  6*^.  1812. 

[488.]  The  foregoing  Report  was  read  and  accepted  by  the 
Town. — 

The  Town  voted  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of  County  Treasurer, 
which  vote  was  reconsidered  &  three  O'Clock  PM  was  assigned, 
afterwards  it  was  Voted  to  postpone  the  Choice  of  County  Treas- 
urer to  Friday  next  10  o'Clock 

Adjourned  to  Friday  next  17*'\  Instant. 

Friday  April  17**^.  1812.— 
The  Town  met  according  to  adjournment. 

Votes  for  a  County  Treasurer  were  received,  sorted  and  counted 
by  the  Moderator  &  Town  Clerk,  when  it  appeared  that, 

John  Winslow  Esq,  had       -     -  852  Votes 

Thomas  Badger  Esq.        -     -     -  76 

Jos.  Foster  Esq.             27.      John  Boyle  22.  -     -     -  49 

Samuel  Brewer                  7.       Nath^.  Noyes  6.        -     -  13 

Step".  Codman  Esq.         5.       Caleb  Bingham  2.     -     -  7 

James  Scott      -     -     -     2.       Benj  Homans  2.       -     -  4 

Seth  Kent   -     -     -     -     1.       David  Tilden  Esq.  1.    -  2 

William  Smith-     -     -     1.       Josiah  Bachelder  1.      -  2 

Andrew  Sigourney      -     1 .       Rev'^.  J  S  J  Gardiner  1 .  2 

Skinner   the  younger     ----- 1 


whole  number -  1008  Votes 


Boston  Towk  Recokds,  1812.  311 

William  Smith  Esq.  — was  chosen  Town  Treasurer  &  Collector 
for  the  year  ensuing. 

A  memorial  was  received  from  William  Smith  Esq.,  praying 
that  the  Town  would  allow  him  an  assistant  Clerk,  for  reasons 
set  forth  in  his  memorial.  The  same  being  read  it  was  moved 
and  Voted, 

That  the  application  of  the  Town  Treasurer  for  the  allowance  of 
a  Clerk  be  referred  for  consideration,  to  the  Committee  chosen  in 
March  to  examine  the  state  of  the  Town  and  County  Treasury, 
&  that  they  report  at  the  May  Meeting. — 

Voted,  That  the  same  Committee  be  desired  to  examine  [489] 
particularly  the  state  of  the  outstanding  taxes  ;  to  consider  what 
instructions  are  necessary  for  the  assessors  relative  to  abate- 
ments ;  and  in  conjunction  with  the  auditors  of  accounts  to  con- 
sider what  amount  of  tax  is  necessary  and  expedient  for  the 
present  year  &  report  at  the  next  May  Meeting. 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Stephen  Cod- 
man  Esq.  for  his  services  as  Moderator. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. — 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
of  twenty  one  years  of  age  &  upwards,  qualified  as  the  Constitu- 
tion prescribes  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the  14'^'^.  day  of  May 
A.D.  1812.     9  O'clock  A.M.— 

Prayer  by  the  Eev*^.  Dr.  Elliot. — 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting. — read. — 

Paragraphs  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  of  Government,  which 
relate  to  the  choice  of  Representatives  read  — 

The  return  of  the  assistant  assessors  signifying  that  the  Major 
&  Minor  Polls  of  this  Town  for  the  present  year  were  10,157. 
being  also  read  —  The  Inhabitants  were  directed  by  the  Select- 
men, to  bring  in  their  Votes  for  Representatives  not  exceeding 
forty  five.  —  The  Poll  to  be  closed  at  half  past  1.  O  Clock.  — 

After  the  Poll  was  closed,  the  Selectmen  proceeded  to  count  & 
sort  the  votes,  when  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen 
were  Elected  Representatives  for  the  year  ensuing  —  viz, 

William  Smith  Esq.  Samuel  Cobb  Esq. 

William  Brown  Esq.  Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esq. 

Benjamin  Russell  Esq.  Charles  Davis  Esq. 


312  City  Document  No.  115. 

Benjamin  Whitman  Esq.  James  Robinson  Esq. 

"William  Hammatt  Esq.  Mr.  John  Parker 
Mr.  Isaac  P.  Davis  William  H.  Sumner  Esq, 

Mr.  Ephraim  Thayer  Mr.  Josiah  Knapp 

Benj^.  Weld  Esq.  Mr.  Oliver  Keating 
[490.]  Mr.  Nathan  Webb  Daniel  Messenger  Esq. 

George  G.  Lee  Esq.  Mr.  William  Porter 

John  May  Esq.  Sam^  M.  Thayer  Esq. 

George  Blanchard  Esq.  Nath^.  Curtis  Esq. 

Mr.  Richard  Faxon  Mr.  Samuel  Dunn 

Mr.  John  D.  Howard  Mr.  Thacher  Goddard 

Mr.  Lynde  Walter  Mr.  Jonathan  Loring 
Mr.  Jonathan  Whitney  Sam^  J.  Prescott  Esq. 

Alexander  Townsend  Esq.  Lemuel  Shaw  Esq. 

James  Savage  Esq.  Charles  Jackson  Esq. 

Henry  Sargent  Esq.  Joseph  Tilden  Esq. 

Mr.  William  Harris  Mr.  Barzillia  Homes 

Mr.  Andrew  Sigourney  Mr.  Joseph  Pierce 

Mr.  Thomas  Barry  Mr.  Joshua  Ellis 

Declaration  of  the  choice  was  then  made  and  the  Meeting  was 
Dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  male  citizens  of  the  town  of  Boston  duly 
qualified  &  legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meeting  assembled  at 
Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the  20*"^  day  of  May  A.D.  1812.  10 
oClock  A.M. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read  — 

Hon^  John  Phillips  Esq. 
chosen  Moderator.  — 

The  Committee  appointed  to  audit  the  accounts  of  the  Town, 
have  attended  that  service  and  ask  leave  to  report ;  That  they 
have  examined  the  Town  Treasurer's  Accounts,  and  have  found 
them  well  vouched  &  right  cast,  that  a  balance  remained  in  his 
hands  on  the  first  instant,  of  Four  thousand  three  hundred  & 
ninety  two  dollars  and  sixty  one  cents,  which  is  carried  to  the 
credit  of  the  Town  in  his  new  account.  —  The  Committee  report 
as  their  opinion,  that  it  will  be  expedient  for  the  Town  to  grant  a 
tax  of  Seventy  five  thousand  dollars,  to  be  assessed  on  the  Inhab- 
itants, to  defray  the  expences  [491]  of  the  Town  for  the  cur- 
rent year,  agreeably  to  the  annexed  estimate.  And  the  Committee 
presume  altho  fifteen  hundred  dollars  more  is  proposed  to  be 
assessed  the  present  year,  than  was  assessed  the  last  year,  that 
the  tax  will  be  less  felt  by  the  Inhabitants,  as  the  County  tax 
will  be  much  less  the  present  than  it  was  the  last  year. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1812.  313 

To  meet  Selectmens  drafts 155000. — 

Overseers  of  the  Poor 23000. 

Board  of  Health ,        700i). 

85000 
Deduct  for  Rents 10000 

$75000 
All  which  is  Submitted 

Sam^  Brown 
W^.  Brown 
Boston  May  19*^.  1812.  —  Step^^.  Codman 

The  foregoing  Report  was  read  and  accepted  by  the  Town.  — 

Voted  that  the  sum  of  Seventy  five  Thousand  Dollars  be  raised 
by  a  tax  to  be  assessed  on  the  Polls  &  Estates  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  this  Town  to  defray  the  expences  of  the  current  year.  — 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Town  on  the  17'^\  day  of 
April  last,  to  make  certain  enquiries  and  investigations  relative 
to  the  allowance  to  be  made  to  the  Town  Treasurer,  for  an 
Assistant,  and  also  the  state  of  the  taxes  outstanding  and  other 
subjects  mentioned  in  the  vote  of  the  Town  —  beg  leave  to 
Report.  — 

That  as  it  respects  the  petition  of  the  Town  Treasurer  &  Col- 
lector, for  an  Assistant,  or  Clerk  in  his  office  to  be  furnished  at 
the  expence  of  the  Town  —  The  Committee  beg  leave  to  state  — 
That  by  conversing  with  Mr.  Smith  (the  [493]  present  Treas- 
urer &  Collector)  it  appears  that  the  accumulation  of  ^^as^  taxes 
and  the  necessity  of  a  prompt  and  effectual  Collection  of  them  — 
has  added  very  much  to  the  ordinary  business  of  the  office.  And 
as  a  large  amount  of  taxes  is  yet  outstanding  which  may,  and 
probably  will  not  be  collected  for  several  months  —  and  as  the 
Coiiunittee  think  it  reasonable  that  the  Treasurer  and  Collector 
should  be  furnished  with  an  assistant  at  the  Towns  expence  —  to 
aid  him  in  the  collection  of  back  taxes  they  therefore  beg  leave 
to  recommend  the  Town  to  allow  Mr.  Smith  the  sum  of  six  hun- 
dred dollars  for  the  Salary  of  an  assistant  with  suitable  qualifica- 
tions to  be  appointed  by  him  for  this  year  only,  and  they  beg  it 
to  be  distinctly  understood  that  this  is  in  consideration  of  the 
extra  trouble  arising  from  the  collection  of  past  taxes  at  present 
in  arrears,  owing  to  the  non  collection  of  them  in  past  years  — 
and  the  whole  of  which  they  hope  will  be  disposed  of  the  ensuing 
year  either  by  payment  oi"  abatement.  The  Committee  find 
furtlier  from  Mr.  Smith  that  the  Mass  of  taxes  have  been  collected 
by  Three  Deputy  Collectors  (instead  of  Four  as  originally 
allowed  by  the  Town)  and  that  he  has  divided  the  grant  of 
Twelve   hundred   Dollars   (originally  made  by  the  Town  as  the 


314  City  Document  No.  115. 

compensation  to  Four  Collectors)  amongst  the  Three  —  this 
allowance  is  considerably  increased  by  the  charges  of  warrants 
fifty  cents  each  —  summonses  Twenty  cents  each  —  and  a  pound- 
age on  collection  of  Four  Per  Cent  and  it  is  supposed  by  Mr. 
Smith,  that  three  active  &  attentive  persons  could  as  effectually 
collect  the  taxes  as  Four  and  that  the  Salary  three  hundred  dollars 
each  with  those  perquisites  would  be  a  sufficient  emolument. 

The  Committee  therefore  do  recommend  that  the  sum  fifteen 
hundred  dollars  Per  annum  be  granted  to  [493]  Mr.  Smith  for 
the  Salary  of  Deputy  Collectors  and  assistant  Clerk  —  instead  of 
twelve  hundred  Dollars  granted  the  last  year. —  The  Committee 
further  report,  that  doubts  having  arisen  on  that  part  of  their 
authority  which  relates  to  instructions  to  the  assessors  for  the 
abatement  of  taxes  assessed  prior  to  the  year  1811  they  requested 
the  opinion  of  counsel  on  the  question  of  the  existing  powers  of 
the  permanent  Assssors,  but  not  having  received  that  opinion, 
the  Committee  recommend  that  for  the  present,  and  untill  the 
further  order  of  the  Town,  the  permanent  assessor  should  pro- 
ceed in  making  abatements  of  taxes,  as  heretofore,  with  this 
exception  however,  that  no  person  shall  be  allowed  any  abate- 
ment for  such  portion  of  the  taxes  assessed  upon  him  for  any 
real  estate  of  which  he  was  the  owner,  as  were  assessed  upon  the 
real  estate  owned  by  such  person. —  The  Committee  further 
report,  that  in  conjunction  with  the  auditors  of  the  Towns 
accounts,  they  have  examined  the  sum  necessary  to  be  raised  for 
the  ensuing  year,  and  agree  with  them  in  recommending  to  the 
Town  to  raise  the  sum  of  Seventy  five  thousand  dollars  for  the 
Towns  current  expences  for  the  ensuing  year. — 
In  behalf  of  the  Committee, 

Per  Order,  Joseph  Tilden,  Secretary. — 
Boston  19*^  May  1812.— 

The  foregoing  Report  was  Read  —  &  accepted  by  the  Town. — 

On  the  application  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  It  was  moved 
and  voted,  that  they  be  authorized  to  use  control  and  manage 
the  whole  of  the  Alms  house  Estate  in  such  manner  as  they  may 
judge  most  useful  to  the  purposes  of  that  establishment,  and  that 
a  major  part  of  them  have  liberty  to  lease  any  part  of  the  land 
for  a  term  of  years  [494]  on  such  conditions  as  they  may  think 
for  the  interest  of  the  Town,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  hospi- 
tal, maniac,  workhouse  or  other  buildings  for  charitable  purposes, 
and  to  make  and  execute  all  such  Deeds  as  may  be  necessary. 

Voted,  That  the  School  Committee  be  empowered  to  take  imme- 
diate measures  for  the  removal  or  the  Center  Reading  &  Writing 
School  house  from  the  front  of  the  New  Court  house  :  and  that 
for  this  purpose  they  be  authorized  and  empowered  to  enlarge  or 
rebuild  the  Latin  School  house  in  such  a  manner  as  to  accommo- 
date the  reading,  writing  &  Latin  Schools. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1812.  315 

Voted,  that  the  Selectmen  be  authorised  and  empowered  to 
appropriate  for  an  open  passage  way  to  the  New  Court  house, 
the  whole,  or  such  portion  as  they  shall  consider  most  eligible,  uf 
the  land  now  under  and  appertaining  to  the  School  house  in  School 
street. — 

Voted,  That  if  the  above  Committee  shall  not  consider  it  necessary 
to  appropriate  the  whole  of  said  land  for  the  passage  way  above 
mentioned ;  that  the  Selectmen  shall  be  empowered  to  sell  the 
remainder  of  such  land,  and  also  a  piece  of  land  lying  on  the 
North  boundary  of  Beacon  hill  &  fronting  on  Derne  street  to 
reimburse  in  part  the  expence  of  enlarging  cr  building  the  Latin 
School  house. 

Voted,  That  the  sum  of  Two  hundred  Dollars  be  appropriated 
towards  maintaining  a  School  for  African  children,  under  the 
direction  of  the  School  Committee. 

Voted,  That  the  sum  of  Seven  hundred  &  fifty  dollars,  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  Hon^  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  for  his  Salary 
as  Judge  of  the  Municipal  Court  the  present  year. 

Voted,  That  the  sum  of  Fifteen  hundred  Dollars  be  allowed 
&  paid  unto  William  Smith  Esq.  as  Treasurer  &  Collector  of  taxes 
the  present  year. 

[495.]  Voted,  That  the  sum  of  one  thousand  Dollars  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  Thomas  Clark  for  his  salary  as  Town  Clerk 
the  present  year. 

Voted,  that  the  sum  of  Eight  hundred  &  sixteen  Dollars  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  each  of  the  three  Assessors  for  their  ser- 
vices in  that  office  the  year  ensuing. 

Theophilus  Curtis  chosen  Hogreave  &  Hayward,  in  place  of  John 
Deluce  resigned. 

Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the  Hon^  John 
Phillips  Esq.  for  his  services  as  Moderator  at  this  Meeting. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  male  Citizens  of  the  Town  of  Boston  quahfied 
as  the  law  directs,  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the  11*'\  day  of 
June  A.D.  1812  10  O'Clock  A.M.  — 

Warrant  for  calhng  the  Meeting  —  read  — 

Hon°.  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator. 


316  City  Document  No.  115. 

Hon\  Daniel  Sargent  Esq,  offered  the  following  Resolutions, 
which  were  read  considered  and  Unanimously  adopted  by  the 
Town  — viz, 

Resolved ;  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  Town,  it  is  of  the  last 
importance  to  the  interests  of  this  Country  to  Avert  the  threat- 
ened calamity  of  War  with  Great  Britain  ;  and  also  to  restore 
the  freedom  of  our  Commerce ;  if  these  important  objects  can 
be  attained,  [496]  consistently  with  the  safety  and  honor  of  the 
American  Nation. 

Resolved  that,  a  Committee  of  twelve  be  appointed,  to  take  into 
consideration  the  present  alarming  state  of  our  public  affairs, 
in  these  respects  and  report  what  measures,  in  their  opinion,  it  is 
proper  for  the  Town  to  adopt  at  this  momentous  crisis. 

The  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen  on  the  Committee  viz. 
Hon  John  C  Jones,  Hon^  Thomas  Dawes,  Hon  William  Brown, 
James  Perkins  Esq.  Hon^  Israel  Thorndike,  Honl  Sam^  Dexter, 
Hon^  Harrison  G.  Otis,  Hon^  Ed  S*  Loe  Livermore,  Hon\ 
Dan^  Sargent,  Charles  Jackson  Esq.,  Cap*".  Gamaliel  Bradford, 
CoP.  W'".  H  Sumner.— 

Adjourned  to  Monday  next  the  15"\  instant,  10  o'Clock 
A.M.— 

Monday  15  June  — 10  o'Clock.  A.M. 

The  Town  being  assembled,  according  to  adjournment,  the  fol- 
lowing Report  was  presented  by  the  Committee. — 

The  Committee  appointed  by  the  Town  of  Boston,  to  take  into 
consideration  the  present  alarming  state  of  our  public  affairs,  and 
report  what  measures  in  their  opinion  it  is  proper  for  the  Town 
to  adopt,  at  this  momentous  crisis, 

Respectfully  Report, 

That  the  recent  proceedings  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States  justify  the  belief,  tliat  measures  of  direct  hostility  against 
Great  Britain  have  received  the  sanction  of  one  branch  of  the 
Legislature,  and  probably  have  already  become  law ;  or,  if  sus- 
pended, that  they  will  finally  be  resumed  and  enforced. —  While 
the  [497]  temper  and  views  of  the  national  administration  are 
intent  upon  war,  an  expression  of  the  sense  of  this  Town,  will, 
of  itself^  be  quite  ineffectual,  either  to  avert  this  deplorable 
calamity,  or  to  accelerate  a  return  of  peace. — but  believing,  as 
we  do,  that  an  immense  majority  of  the  people  are  invincibly 
averse  from  a  conflict  equally  unnecessary  and  menacing  ruin  to 
themselves,  and  their  posterity ;  convinced  as  we  are,  that  the 
event  will  overwhelm  them  with  astonishment  and  dismay ;  we 
cannot  but  trust  that  a  general  expression  of  the  voice  of  the 
people  would  satisfy  Congress  that  those  of    their   Representa- 


BosTOK  Town  Records,  1812.  317 

tives  who  have  voted  in  favor  of  war,  have  not  truly  represented 
the  wishes  of  their  constituents  ;  and  thus  arrest  the  tendency  of 
their  measures  to  this  extremity. 

But  should  this  be  hopeless,  it  will  enable  the  people  to  com- 
bine their  operations  in  order  to  produce,  by  constitutional  means, 
a  change  of  men  and  measures,  and  rescue  the  nation  from  ruin. 
From  the  commencement  of  the  system  of  Commercial  restric- 
tions, the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  (Inferior  we  trust  to  none  in 
ardent  patriotism  and  attachment  to  the  Union)  have  appeared  to 
render  themselves  obnoxious  to  the  national  administration,  and 
its  partisans  in  this  State,  by  their  foresight  and  predictions  of 
the  utter  inefficacy,  destructive  operation  and  ultimate  tendency 
of  this  unprecedented  and  visionary  scheme.  They  could  discern 
in  it  nothing  but  a  deliberate  sacrifice  of  their  best  interests,  and 
a  conformity  to  the  views  of  France,  with  whose  system  it 
cooperates,  and  whose  approbation  it  receives ;  and  hostility  to 
Britain  whose  interests  it  wounds,  and  whose  resentment  it  was 
calculated  to  excite.  It  was  for  the  national  Government  [498] 
to  determine,  whether  the  decrees  and  aggressions  of  the  belliger- 
ent powers  (which  commenced  with  the  European  war)  would 
probably  demand  of  the  national  honor,  retaliation  and  resistance  ; 
or  whether  the  peculiar  character  of  the  war,  and  relative  situa- 
tion of  our  Country,  would  justify  a  suspension  of  our  resentment, 
and  an  adherence  to  our  pacific  policy.  In  the  one  case,  the 
years  which  have  elapsed  should  have  been  occupied  in  warlike 
preparations,  which  would  now  have  been  imposing  and  formi- 
dable.— 

In  the  other  event,  it  was  the  dictate  of  sound  policy  to  pro- 
test against  the  predatory  systems  which  have  annoyed  our  com- 
merce, and  still  to  have  pursued  it  by  all  practicable  means.  But 
government  has  adopted  neither  of  these  courses.  It  has  not  pre- 
pared to  vindicate  our  commercial  rights  upon  the  ocean,  where 
alone  they  are  assailed  ;  nor  has  it  permitted  the  Merchant  to  in- 
demnify himself  in  any  measure  for  the  loss  of  that  commerce 
which  is  interrupted,  by  a  participation  in  that  which  is  left.  But 
by  a  sti'ange  &  infatuated  policy,  under  the  pretence  of  resisting 
the  invasion  of  maritime  rights,  it  has  debarred  its  own  Citizens 
from  the  use  of  the  Ocean  ;  and  professing  to  avenge  the  injuries 
sustained  from  France  and  England,  it  has  aggravated  them  by 
its  own  measures. —  The  Decrees  of  France,  the  Edicts  of  Eng- 
land, and  the  Acts  of  Congress,  though  intended  to  counteract 
each  other,  constitute  in  effect,  a  trijole  league  for  the  annihila- 
tion of  American  commerce ;  and  our  own  Government,  as  if 
weary  of  waiting  for  a  lingering  dissolution,  hastens  to  dis- 
patch the  sufferer,  by  the  finishing  stroke  of  a  British  War. 

Had  the  policy  of  Government  been  inclined  towards  resist- 
ance to  the  pretensions  of  the  belligerents,  by  open  war,  there 
could  be  neither  policy,  reason,  or  justice  in  singling  out  Great 
Britain  as  the  exclusive  object  of  Hostility.  [499]  If  the  ob- 
ject of  war  is  merely  to  vindicate  our  honor,  why  is  it  not  declared 
against  the  first  aggressor?     If  the  object  is  defence  and  success, 


318  City  Document  No.  115. 

why  is  it  to  be  waged  against  the  adversary  most  able  to  annoy, 
and  least  likely  to  yield  ?  Why  at  the  moment  when  England 
explicitly  declares  her  Orders  in  Council  repealed  whenever 
France  shall  rescind  her  Decrees,  is  the  one  selected  for  an  enemy, 
and  the  other  courted  as  a  Conqueror?  These  enquiries  lead  us 
into  contemplations  too  painful  to  indulge  and  too  serious  to 
express. 

Tho'  we  cannot  discern  the  least  reason  for  this  discrimina- 
tion in  favor  of  France,  to  justify  the  disproportionate  measure 
of  resentment  exhibited  against  England ;  still  in  a  war  with  the 
latter  power,  there  might  have  been  found  some  consolation  had 
our  country  been  in  any  measure  prepared.  We  might  have 
hoped  that  success  would  in  some  instances  have  rewarded  the 
efforts  of  our  squadrons.  That  our  sea  coast  would  have  been 
in  some  measure  protected,  that  the  gloom  of  a  long  and  unequal 
contest  might  be  relieved  by  the  brilliancy  of  occasional 
exploits.  But  under  present  circumstances,  there  will  be  no 
scope  for  valour,  no  field  for  enterprise,  no  chance  for  success, 
no  hope  of  national  glory,  no  prospect  but  of  a  war  against 
G-reat  Britain,  in  aid  of  the  common  enemy,  of  the  human  race; 
and  in  the  end  an  inglorious  peace,  in  which  our  ally  will  desert 
our  interest,  and  act  in  concert  with  our  enemy,  to  shackle  & 
restrain  the  commerce  of  our  infant  empire,  by  regulations  in 
which  they  will  find  a  common  interest. 

If  your  Committee  are  correct  in  the  opinion  that  [500]  these 
sentiments  are  cherished  by  the  great  body  of  the  people,  it  is 
highly  expedient  that  they  should  be  expressed  by  them  in  their 
different  Towns  &  Counties,  and  that  the  most  speedy  and  con- 
venient mode  should  be  devised  to  give  effect  to  their  will.  The 
power  of  the  Country  is  yet  in  the  hands  of  the  people.  Union, 
energy  and  resolution  will  cause  the  public  opinion  to  be  respected. 
Oar  Constitution  affords  the  means  of  saving  oui'  Country,  by 
changing  the  men  and  measures  which  have  brought  upon  us 
our  present  embarrassments. 

It  cannot  be  expected  that  a  great  people  will  quietly  consent 
that  those  who  represent  them  should  abuse  their  trust,  and 
wantonly  expose  them  to  ruin  and  disgrace.  If  then  the  people 
who  are  opposed  to  the  present  system  will  move  with  one  accord, 
and  express  their  disapprobation,  if,  influenced  by  a  sense  of 
their  dearest  and  vital  interests,  they  will  unite  without  party 
distinction  to  save  their  country  from  a  foreign  war,  and  what  is 
still  worse  to  be  dreaded,  ^foreign  yoke,  ''  now  is  the  appointed 
time,  now  is  the  day  of  Salvation." —  But  if  overawed  by  power, 
humbled  by  suffering,  or  restrained  by  erroneous  considerations, 
they  will  submit  to  be  plunged  into  the  troubled  Ocean  of 
European  wars,  the  melancholy  consolation  will  remain  for  the 
inhabitants  of  Boston,  while  they  bow  in  submission  to  the  cruel 
destiny  of  their  Country,  that  they  have  omitted  no  just  occasion 
to  warn  their  fellow  citizens  of  its  approach. 

Wherefore  your  Committee  recommend  for  the  adoption  of  the 
Town  the  following  Resolutions.  — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1812.  319 

[501.]  Whereas  the  proceedings  of  the  national  government 
afford  reason  to  conclude,  that  it  is  their  determination  to  involve 
our  Country  in  a  war,  with  great  Britain,  and  meetings  of  the 
people  in  a  few  places  have  been  held,  at  which  measures  have 
been  adopted,  and  sentiments  expressed,  calculated  to  induce 
government  to  persevere  in  those  hostile  dispositions ;  and  it 
appearing  desireable  that  the  government  should  have  full  infor- 
mation of  the  opinions  and  wishes  of  the  people.  — 

Therefore  Resolved^  That  under  existing  circumstances,  the 
Inhabitants  of  this  Town  most  sincerely  deprecate  a  war  with 
Great  Britain,  as  extremely  injurious  to  the  interests  and  happi- 
ness of  the  people,  and  peculiarly  so,  as  it  necessarily  tends  to  an 
alliance  with  France,  thereby  threatening  the  subversion  of  their 
liberties  and  independence. 

That  an  offensive  war  against  Great  Britain  alone  would  be 
manifestly  unjust ;  and  that  a  war  against  both  the  belligerent 
powers  would  be  an  extravagant  undertaking,  which  is  not  re- 
quired by  the  honor  or  interest  of  the  nation  Resolved,  That  we 
view  with  just  indignation,  and  emotions  inspired  with  the  love  of 
our  country,  the  outrages  and  aggressions  which  are  offered  to 
our  lawful  commerce  ;  and  we  believe  it  is  the  duty  of  government 
to  commence  and  proceed  with  as  much  dihgence  as  the  resources 
of  our  Country  will  warrant,  in  providing  for  its  efficient  protec- 
tion by  a  naval  force.  And  we  deem  all  commercial  restrictions, 
as  so  many  engines  of  destruction,  adopted  to  complete  the  ruin 
of  that  portion  of  our  commerce  which  escapes  the  rapacity  of 
foreign  aggressors.  — 

[503.]  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  true  policy  and  duty  of  this 
nation  to  adhere  to  an  impartial  neutrality ;  to  abandon  com- 
mercial restrictions  ;  to  husband  the  resources  of  the  country ;  to 
indemnify  itself  against  the  losses  to  which  its  commerce  is  ex- 
posed in  the  present  European  war,  by  improving  those  casual 
advantages  which  arise  from  this  state  of  things,  and  which 
cannot  be  expected  in  a  time  of  profound  peace.  That  to  abstain 
from  effoi'ts  of  impotent  resentment,  blind  rage,  or  desperate 
policy  is  not  to  be  deemed  submission  to  any  foreign  power,  but 
a  conformity  to  necessities  imposed  on  our  country  by  an  over- 
ruling Providence,  for  which  our  courage  and  patriotism  is  not 
responsible.  That  we  should  endeavour  to  ride  out  the  storm 
which  we  cannot  direct,  and  that  to  plunge  into  the  present  war 
would  be  a  wanton  and  impious  rejection  of  the  advantages  with 
which  the  Almighty  has  blessed  our  country.  — 
Hesolved,  That  our  free  Constitution  secures  to  the  people,  the 
right  at  all  times  to  meet  together  in  a  peaceable  manner,  and 
express  their  opinions  on  public  men  and  measures,  and  to 
adopt  means  for  the  security  of  their  rights ;  and  that  our  fellow 
citizens  in  this,  and  other  commercial  states,  are  earnestly  re- 
quested to  join  with  us  in  a  public  expression  of  their  sentiments 
on  the  system  of  commercial  restrictions  and  their  abhorrence  of 
war ;  and  that  this  Town,  should  it  become  expedient,  will  ap- 


320  City  Document  No.  115. 

point  Committees  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  their  communica- 
tions, and  for  corresponding  or  meeting  with  them  for  the 
adoption  of  such  constitutional  measures,  as  may  be  proposed, 
for  [503]  restoration  of  our  unalienable  commercial  rights ;  for 
the  securit}''  of  our  peace ;  and  for  the  election  of  such  men  to 
office,  as  will  use  their  best  endeavours  for  the  promotion  of  those 
objects,  so  essential  to  the  preservation  of  our  constitution,  to 
the  security  of  our  union,  and  to  the  prosperity  of  our  country.  — 

J.  C.  Jones  Chairman  — 

The  foregoing  report  having  been  repeatedly  read  and  debated, 
was  voted  to  be  accepted.  — 

Voted,  That  a  suitable  number  of  copies  of  the  foregoing  report 
be  printed  with  the  signature  of  the  Moderator,  and  that  the 
Selectmen  be  requested  to  transmit  a  copy  thereof  to  each  Town 
in  this  Commonwealth. 

Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Honl.  Thomas 
Dawes  for  his  services  as  Moderator. 

Then  the  Meeting;  was  Dissolved 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of  the 
Town  of  Boston  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Saturday  the  4*^  day  of  July 
A.D.  1812  —  9  o'clock  A.M. 

Thomas  Clark  was  chosen  Moderator. 

The  Committee  appointed  the  last  year  to  make  choice  of  a 
G-entleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  Anniversary  of  Indepen- 
dence—  Reported,  That  they  had  chosen  Benjamin  Pollard  Esq. 
who  has  accepted  the  appointment. — 

Adjourned  to  the  old  [504]  South  Church  where  at  12  o'Clock 

AN   ORATION 

was  delivered  by  Benjamin  Pollard  Esq""  to  commemorate  the  Inde- 
pendence of  the  United  States  of  America. 

Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be  and  hereby  are  appointed,  a 
Committee  to  wait  on  Benjamin  Pollard,  Esq.  in  the  name  of  the 
Town,  and  thank  him  for  the  elegant  &  spirited  Oration,  this  day 
delivered  by  him  at  the  request  of  the  Town,  upon  the  anniversary 
of  American  Independence,  in  which  were  considered  the  feel- 
ings, manners  &  principles,  which  produced  the  great  national 
event ;  and  to  request  of  him  a  copy  for  the  press. — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1812.  321 

Voted,  That  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  be,  and  hereby  are  ap- 
pointed a  Committee,  to  apply  to  some  able  &  learned  Gentleman 
to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  fifth  day  of  July  1813.  (the  4*^  day 
of  July  in  that  year  falling  upon  Sunday)  the  fifth  will  be  cele- 
brated as  the  Anniversary  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States  of  America ;  wherein  the  Orator  is  to  consider,  the  feel- 
ings, manners  and  principles  which  led  to  this  great  national 
event;  as  well  as  the  important  and  happy  effects,  whether 
general  or  domestic,  which  have  already,  or  will  forever  flow  from 
that  auspicious  Epoch. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[505.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Citizens  of  the  Town  of 
Boston  quaUfied  as  the  law  directs,  held  on  Faneuil  Hall  on 
Tlmrday  the  6*^  day  of  August  AD  1812.     10  o'Clock  A.M. 

Warrant  for  caUing  the  Meeting  —  read  — 

Benjamin  Weld  Esq. 
was  chosen  Moderator. — 

Petitions  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read. — 

A  motion  was  made  by  CoP.  Sumner  that  the  Town  adopt  the 
following  Resolutions  —  viz. 

The  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  have  learnt  with  heart- 
felt concern,  that  in  the  City  of  Baltimore  a  most  outrageous 
attack,  the  result  of  deliberate  combination,  has  been  made  upon 
the  freedom  of  opinion  and  the  liberty  of  the  press.  — An  infuri- 
ate mob  has  succeeded  in  accomplishing  its  sanguinary  purposes, 
by  the  destruction  of  printing  presses  and  other  property,  by 
pulling  down  buildings  that  were  merely  leased  to  the  conductors 
of  those  presses,  by  violating  the  sanctuary  of  dwelling  houses, 
breaking  open  the  pubhc  prison  and  dragging  forth  from  the 
protection  of  civil  authority,  the  victims  of  their  ferocious  pur- 
suit, guilty  of  no  crime  but  the  expression  of  their  opinions,  and 
completing  the  tissue  of  their  enormities,  by  bruises,  wounds  & 
murders  accompanied  with  the  most  barbarous  &  shocking  indig- 
nities. 

In  the  circumstances  attending  the  origin,  the  progress,  and 
the  catastrophe  of  this  Bloody  scene,  we  discern  with  painful 
emotion,  not  merely  an  aggravation  of  the  calamities  of  the 
present  unjust  and  ruinous  war,  but  a  prelude  [506]  to  the  dis- 
solution of  all  free  government  and  the  establishment  of  a  reign 
of  Terror.  It  is  beside,  marked  with  a  strong  resemblance  to  the 
early  excesses  of  the  French  revolution,  when  opinion  was  pun- 
ished with  death,  and  when  mobs  were  employed  in  the  breaking 


322  City  Document  No.  115. 

open  of  prisons  &  the  sacrifice  of  many  innocent  persons  who 
sought  protection  within  their  walls.  Mobs  by  reducing  men  to 
a  state  of  nature  defeat  the  object  of  every  social  compact.  They 
are  equally  dangerous  to  Governments  they  attempt  to  subvert, 
and  to  those  who  court  their  support  &  connive  at  their  outrages. 
But  of  all  Mobs  those  which  volunteer  professedly  in  support  of 
Government  are  the  most  to  be  dreaded,  unless  their  assistance  is 
openly  and  promptly  rejected.  By  accepting  or  even  tolerating 
such  dangerous  allies,  it  becomes  manifest  that  a  Government 
dares  not  confide  in  its  own  strength,  or  in  the  unbiassed  appro- 
bation of  the  people.  Opposition  is  discouraged  to  the  violence 
of  such  a  mob,  because  it  assumes  to  represent  and  enforce  the 
will  and  pleasure  of  Government,  and  the  banditti,  who  unre- 
proved  and  uncontradicted  lead  the  lawless  multitude,  feel  the 
confidence  of  commissioned  officers.  In  such  a  state  the  civil 
magistrate  finds  an  excuse  for  his  inaction,  or  a  veil  for  his  cor- 
ruption. The  sober  citizen  who  trembles  in  beholding  the  fury 
of  the  mob,  seeks  refuge  from  its  dangers  by  joining  in  its 
acclamations.  The  laws  are  silenced.  —  New  objects  of  violence 
are  discovered.  Danger  besets  all  men  of  all  parties  in  succes- 
sion. The  Government  of  the  nation  and  the  Mob  Government 
change  places  with  each  other.  The  accessory  [507]  becomes 
the  principal  —  The  mob  erects  its  horrid  crest  over  the  ruins  of 
liberty,  of  property,  of  the  domestic  relations  of  life  and  of  civil 
institutions ;  untill  satiated  or  fatigued  with  slaughter  it  resigns 
its  bludgeons  and  its  pikes  at  the  feet  of  a  dictator,  and  raises 
its  bloody  hands  to  worship  some  God  of  its  Idolatry,  to  whose 
more  tolerable  despotism  all  ranks  of  men  become  ready  to 
submit.  — 

When  it  is  considered  that  this  Country  passed  through  a  rev- 
olution, involving  its  dearest  rights,  without  a  single  instance  of 
ferocious  and  sanguinary  excess  on  the  part  of  the  people,  thereby 
affording  a  memorable  proof  of  their  moral  feehngs,  their  virtue 
and  enlightened  character :  and  when  it  is  also  considered  that 
the  present  unhappy  war,  so  repugnant  to  the  wishes  and  feelings 
of  an  immense  majority  of  native  citizens,  does  not  involve 
interests  in  any  degree  comparable  with  those  which  were  at 
stake  in  our  revolutionary  war ;  it  is  derogatory,  and  inconsistent 
with  the  American  character,  that  in  the  commencement  of  such 
a  war,  exeesses  should  be  committed  which  the  virtue  of  our  citi- 
zens would  not  endure  in  a  crisis  when  our  liberties  were  in 
danger  and  our  country  actually  invaded  by  standing  armies. 
■We  are  therefore  compelled  to  believe  that  the  outrages  at  Balti- 
more were  instigated  by  foreigners  who  in  their  own  Country 
have  been  familiai'ized  to  similar  scenes,  and  that  French  emis- 
saries are  the  principal  agents,  and  the  few  deluded  natives  who 
joined  them  are  merely  instruments  in  their  hands. 

While  these  alarming  scenes  in  a  sister  state,  excite  in  us 
grateful  emotions  towards  the  Almighty  Disposer  [508]  of 
human  events  for  the  quiet,  peace,  good  order  and  unanimity 
which  we  are    permitted  to  enjoy,   it   behooves  us   to   exercise 


Boston  Town  Records,  1812.  323 

becoming  vigilance  for  the  preservation  of  tliese  blessings. 
Although  a  vast  majority  of  the  people  of  this  Town  and  vicinity 
are  deeply  impressed  with  a  love  of  order  and  a  horror  of  mobs, 
we  ought  to  have  too  much  knowledge  of  the  human  character 
and  too  intimate  an  acquaintance  with  history  not  to  know,  that 
a  few  unprincipled  assassins  may  endanger  the  peace  and  lives 
of  thousands  of  the  well  disposed  citizens.— 

While  such  wretches  who  under  the  cover  of  night  attempt  their 
enterprises,  are  organized,  united  and  systematic  the  peaceable 
citizens  unarmed  &  unconscious  of  danger,  are  without  system 
&  without  plan  —  untill  the  scaling  ladders  of  the  mob  are  at 
their  windows,  and  their  torches  at  their  doors. — 

Therefore  —  Resolved,  as  the  sense  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this 
Town,  that  the  late  horrible  proceedings  in  Baltimore  in  first 
deliberately  demolishing  a  free  press  and  the  house  in  which  it 
was  established,  the  repetition  of  that  attack  after  a  long  interval, 
the  violation  of  the  prison  which  has  ever  been  considered  a 
sanctuary  both  for  the  innocent  and  the  guilty,  and  the  barbarous 
massacre  of  one  or  more  citizens  there  confined,  for  no  other 
offence  than  their  having  defended  their  own  dwelling,  and  the 
freedom  of  the  press,  after  the  civil  authority  had  neglected  & 
refused  to  protect  them,  merits  the  most  unqualified  censure  and 
calls  for  the  most  alarming  apprehensions  for  the  internal  peace 
of  our  beloved  country. 

Resolved,  that  while  we  are  not  disposed  to  an  [509]  unreason- 
able jealousy  of  the  constitutional  authority,  nor  to  impute  to  our 
Rulers  without  full  proof,  and  indifference  to  the  rights  of  the 
citizens ;  we  cannot  refrain  from  expressing  our  regret  that  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  in  whose  vicinity  and  for  the 
pretended  support  of  whose  measures  the  excesses  were  com- 
mitted, has  not  thought  proper  to  interfere  in  any  known  mode 
for  their  suppression  ;  especially  as  the  interdiction  of  shipments 
by  the  rioters  and  other  outrages  are  violations  of  the  laws  of  the 
United  States,  and  as  the  influence  of  his  high  station  would 
probably  not  have  been  slighted  by  these  pretended  supporters  of 
his  authority  —  we  still  confide  in  the  hope  that  the  President 
will  not  think  it  incompatible  with  his  high  station  to  express  his 
disapprobation  of  these  enormities. — 

Resolved  That  we  are  alarmed,  astonished  and  confounded  to 
find,  that  a  paper  published  at  the  seat  of  G-overnment,  and 
which  is  understood  on  some  occasions,  to  be  its  organ,  not  only 
led  the  way  to  these  scenes  of  confusion,  but  has  impliedly  ap- 
proved and  justified  them,  &  that  while  no  mention  was  made  of 
this  late  horrible  massacre  in  which  the  blood  of  our  oldest  revo- 
lutionary oflScers  flowed  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore,  a  severe  com- 
mentary was  issued  in  that  paper  against  the  spirited  address  of 
a  republican  Magistrate  of  New  York,  because  he  expressed  his 
abhorrence  of  Mobs.  We  will  not  admit  the  conclusion  which 
these  facts  would  seem  to  warrant,  that  these  Mobs  are  not  dis- 
countenanced by  the  Executive  of    the  United  States,  we  would 


324  City  Document  No.  115. 

rather  consider  them  as  of  French  origin  and  the  first  fruits  of 
that  unnatural  and  dreadful  alliance  into  which  we  have  entered, 
in  fact,  if  not  in  form. 

Resolved,  that  it  is  the  duty  of  every  good  citizen  [510]  with- 
out distinction  of  party,  to  furnish  himself,  forthwith,  with  suit- 
able arms  and  equipments,  and  to  hold  himself  ready  at  a 
moments  warning  to  protect  and  support  the  magistrates  and 
Sheriff  of  this  County,  in  suppressing  every  riot,  tumult,  or  un- 
lawful assembly ;  whatever  may  be  the  political  opinions  of  the 
persons  against  whom  the  same  are  directed  ;  and  that  the 

Hon^'®.  Daniel  Sargent,  Hon.  J.  C.  Jones,  Major  "William 
Sullivan,  CoP.  Henry  Sargent,  Joshua  Davis  Esquire,  Major 
Charles  Davis,  Cap°.  John  Cotton,  Cap".  Henry  Purkett, 
Cap".  Ozias  Goodwin,  Major  Joseph  Tilden,  Col.  George 
Sullivan  &  Cap".  Jon^.  Chapman 

be  a  Committee  to  prepare  articles  of  association,  for  this  pur- 
pose ;  and  to  cause  the  same  to  be  offered  for  signature  to  every 
Citizen  of  the  Town  ;  and  to  do  whatever  further  may  be  neces- 
sary to  carry  into  effect  the  object  of  this  resolution.  — 
Resolved,  That  the  said  Committee  be  desired  forthwith  to  cause 
to  be  assigned  alarm  posts  for  each  Volunteer  or  other  Company 
of  Militia,  and  to  fix  and  publish  the  signals  of  alarm,  and  to 
communicate  the  same  to  the  Sheriff  of  this  County. 
Resolved,  That  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  be  and 
hereby  are  requested  to  take  all  proper  &  legal  measures,  which 
may  in  their  opinion  be  necessary,  for  the  preservation  of  the 
public  order  and  tranquility  of  the  Town. 

Resolved,  That  we  sincerely  condole  with  the  good  people  of 
Baltimore  and  Maryland,  upon  the  loss  of  those  highly  respect- 
able Citizens  who  have  fallen  victims  to  the  unhallowed  fury  of  a 
Foreign  Mob  ;  we  consider  them  Martyrs  to  the  cause  of  liberty  ; 
and  to  the  survivors  we  offer  an  Asylum  from  the  rage  of 
foreigners,  and  our  assurances  of  co-operating  with  them  in 
any  measures  to  save  our  Country.  — 

[511.]  Resolved,  That  those  outrageous  proceedings  are  in 
our  opinion  attributable  to  the  present  wanton,  impolitic  and 
unjust  war,  and  we  fear,  but  a  prelude  to  greater  evils  justly  to 
be  apprehended  —  and  that  we  perceive  no  refuge  from  destruc- 
tion, but  in  a  change  of  our  present  rulers  ;  and  that  we  are 
ready  to  support  in  the  election  to  the  public  offices,  all  those 
who  are  advocates  for  peace,  without  distinction  of  party.  — 
Resolved,  That  while  we  abstain  from  all  unconstitutional  meas- 
ures, we  will  maintain  &  exercise  the  freedom  of  speech  and  of 
the  press,  untill  our  latest  breath,  undismayed  by  the  frowns  of 
power,  the  glitter  of  arms,  the  threats  of  placemen,  or  the  vio- 
lence of  Mobs.  — 

The  foregoing  Resolutions  being  read  and  debated  —  a  motion 
was  made  by  George  Blake   Esq.    to   commit  them  for  amend- 


Boston  Town  Records,  1812,  325 

ment  —  The  Question  being  put  it  passed  in  the  negative  by  a 
very  large  majorit}^ 

The  Question  was  then  taken  on  the  Resolutions  and  passed 
nearly  unanimously  in  the  affirmative. 

The  article  in  the  Warrant,  "To  take  into  consideration,  the 
expediency  of  choosing,  and  if  the  Town  shall  see  fit  to  choose 
Delegates^  to  correspond  with,  and  meet  such  other  Delegates,  as 
have  been  or  may  be  chosen  in  other  counties,  whenever  such 
elections  shall  have  been  generally  made  in  the  diilerent  counties 
in  the  state ;  provided  the  public  exigencies  shall  appear  to 
require  the  meeting  of  such  a  Convention  to  consult  together  for 
the  common  good ;  and  to  adopt  such  measures  as  the  public 
interest  may  require."  being  read.  — 

The  Hon^i®.  Samuel  Dexter  Esq.  rose,  and  moved  that  the 
subject  of  choosing  Delegates,  be  indefinitely  postponed. 

[513.]  The  subject  was  debated  untill  past  2  o'Clock  — 
when  a  motion  to  adjourn  was  put  &  carried  in  the  affirmative. 

Adjourned  to  tomorrow  10  o'Clock. 

Friday  August  7*^^.  10  o'Clock  A.M. 
Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  motion  of  Mr.  Dexter  for  an  indefinite  postponement  was 
debated  until  nearly  2  o'Clock  —  when  the  question  was  taken  & 
passed  in  the  negative  by  a  large  Majority. 

It  was  then  (nearly  unanimously)  voted,  That  the  HonK  Har- 
rison G.  Otis,  Hon^^".  John  C.  Jones,  Hon^.  Christopher  Gore, 
Doct.  John  Warren,  Hon^  Ed  S*.  Loe  Livermore,  Hon^  Daniel 
Sargent,  Hon^  Artemus  Ward,  William  Parsons  Esq.  Hon^ 
Thomas  Dawes,  Theodore  Lyman  Esq.  Joseph  Head  Esq.  William 
Sullivan  Esq.  Samuel  Parkman  Esq.  Charles  Jackson  Esq.  Gen. 
Arnold  Welles,  James  Perkins  Esq.  Warren  Dutton  Esq.  David 
Sears  Esq.,  &  Benjamin  Gorham  Esq.  with  one  other  Delegate 
to  be  appointed  by  the  town  of  Chelsea,  if  said  town  shall  think 
proper  to  choose  one  —  be  and  they  are  hereby  appointed  Delegates 
for  the  County  of  Suffolk  to  correspond  with,  and  meet  such 
other  Delegates,  as  have  been,  or  may  be  chosen  in  other  Coun- 
ties, whenever  such  elections  shall  have  been  generally  made  in 
the  different  Counties  of  the  State ;  provided  the  public  exigen- 
cies shall  appear  to  require  the  meeting  of  such  Convention ;  to 
consult  together  for  the  common  good,  and  to  adopt  such  meas- 
ures as  the  public  interest  may  require. 

Voted,  That  the  Town  of  Chelsea  be  invited  to  join  with 
[513]  us  in  the  measures  proposed  in  the  foregoing  vote ;  and 
to  choose  one  Delegate  for  the  same  purpose,  so  as  to  complete 
the  Eepresentation  of  this  County  in  any  Convention  that  may  be 
assembled  as  aforesaid.  — 


326  City  Document  No.  115. 

Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Benj^.  Weld 
Esq.  for  his  services  as  Moderator. — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Citizens  of  the  Town  of  Boston, 
qualified  as  the  law  directs,  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday  the 
7"\  day  of  October  AD  1812.— 10  o'Clock  A.M. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read. — 

Hon^^^.  Thomas  Dawes, 
was  chosen  Moderator. 

Messrs.  Joseph  Austin  &  Robert  Williams,  were  chosen  Select- 
men, in  room  of  Francis  Wright  and  John  May  Esq.  deceased. 

Rev*^.  Horace  Holley,  Peter  O.  Thatcher  Esq.  Mr.  Francis  J. 
Oliver  &  Dr.  John  C.  Warren,  were  chosen  Members  of  the 
School  Committee,  in  the  room  of  J.  S.  Buckminster  &  David 
Creen  Esq.  deceased,  and  of  John  Phillips  and  William  Prescott 
Esq.  resigned. — 

Voted,  That  Hon^  Thomas  Dawes,  Benjamin  Russell  Esq. 
Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esq.  Charles  Bulfinch  Esq.  &  Mr.  Andrew 
Sigourney  be  a  Committee  to  take  into  consideration  the  applica- 
tion of  Mr.  John  Odin  "  That  the  Town  would  sell  or  lease  a 
small  piece  of  land  in  the  rear  of  his  warehouse,  through  which 
the  common  Sewer  passes  "  &  have  full  power  to  sell  or  lease,  by 
deed  or  deeds,  [514]  by  public  Auction  or  otherwise  the  said 
land  on  the  best  terms  they  can  for  the  benefit  of  the  Town. — 

Voted,  That  the  Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  the 
Members  of  the  Board  of  Health,  be  constituted  and  appointed  a 
Committee  of  Finance,  to  superintend  the  administration  of  the 
monied  concerns  of  the  Town. — 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  Committee,  and  they  are  hereby 
empowered,  by  sub-committees  or  otherwise,  to  consult  with  the 
Treasurer  on  the  form  and  manner  in  which  the  Books  of  his 
office  shall  be  kept,  to  attend  to  the  collection  of  Taxes,  and  to 
discharge  of  the  duty  of  the  Collector  and  his  Deputies ;  and  to 
advise  the  Assessors  relative  to  abatements. — 

And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  Committee,  in  conjunction 
with  the  Treasurer,  to  prepare  a  clear  and  well  defined  statement 
of  the  Treasury  &  of  monied  concerns  of  the  Town  ;  to  be  handed 
to  tlie  Auditors  of  Accounts  for  their  inspection,  and  to  be  at 
their  disposal,  to  be  laid  before  the  Town  at  the  annual  meeting 
in   May. — 


Boston  Town  Records,  1812.  327 

It  was  moved  to  recommend  to  the  Justice  of  the  Court  of 
Sessions  to  extend  the  debtors  limits  to  the  whole  Town  of 
Boston  — The  question  being  taken  by  polling,  it  appeared  there 
were  79  against  the  motion  &  7o  in  favour  of  it  —  and  so  passed 
in  the  negative. — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. — 


[515.]  At  a  legal  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston,  duly  qualified  to  vote  for  Representatives  in  the  Gen- 
eral Court  of  this  Commonwealth,  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the 
2*^.  day  of  November  A.D.  1812.  9  o'Clock,  A.M.— 

Prayer  by  the  Rev*^.  Dr.  Baldwin. — 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read. — 

Paragraphs  of  a  Resolve  of  the  General  Court  for  choosing  one 
Representative  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  for  Suffolk 
district  —  read.  — 

The  Inhabitants  were  informed  that  the  Poll  would  be  closed 
at  1  O'clock  —  the  Bells  to  commence  tolling  at  half  past  12 
O'clock.— 

Persons  voted  for  as  a  Representative  for  the  Suffolk  District 
in  this  Commonwealth  in  the  next  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
viz, 

Hon^i^  Artemus  Ward     -     -     -     -  1527 — 
Rev*^.  Horace  Holly  5.     Wilham  Gray  Esq.  4  -     -  9 — 

Samuel  Dexter  Esq.  2.     Loammi  Baldwin  Esq.  2  4 

Caleb  Bingham  Esq.   1.     Sam\   Livermore  Esq.  1  2 

Wilham  Sullivan  Esq.  1.     W"' H.   Sumner  Esq.  1  2 

Thomas  OSelfridge  Esq.  1.     Daniel  Tuttle  1     -     -  2— 

Thomas  Joy  Jun''.  1 1 — 

And  declaration  made  thereof  by  the  Selectmen  in  public 
Town  Meeting. — 

A  return  of  the  doings  of  this  Meeting  was  made  out  (con- 
formable to  the  one  in  the  Town  officer)  and  put  into  the  hands 
of  Alden  Bradford  Esq.,  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth,  by  the 
Town  Clerk.— 

Then  the  Meetins;  was  Dissolved. 


[516.]     At  a  Meeting   of   the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Boston,  duly  qualified  to  vote  for  Representatives  to  the  General 


328  City  Document  No.  115. 

Court  of  this  Commonwealth,  at  Faneuil  Hall  ou  thursday  the  12 
day  of  November  AD  1812  —  9  O'Clock  A.M. 

Prayer  by  the  Rev*^.  Mr.  Gardiner. 

"Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read  — 

The  Inhabitants  were  directed  by  the  Selectmen  to  bring  in 
their  written  or  printed  votes  for  five  persons  as  Electors  of  Presi- 
dent and  Vice  President  of  the  United  States,  for  the  District  of 
Suffolk,  Essex  and  Middlesex. — 

The  votes  were  received  untill  2  O'Clock  when  the  Selectmen 
declared  the  Poll  to  be  closed  —  the  votes  were  then  sorted  & 
counted  in  open  Town  Meeting,  &  a  Return  made  out  and  directed 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth,  as  follows,  viz. 

At  a  legal  Town  Meeting  held  at  Boston  in  the  County  of 
Suffolk  on  the  Twelfth  day  of  November  AD.  1812  for  the 
choice  of  Electors  of  President  &  Vice  President  of  the  United 
States,  the  undernamed  Persons  had  the  number  of  votes  to  their 
names  respectively  annexed,  viz. 

Hon^  Harrison  Gray  Otis  Esq. -  3129 

Hon^  Nathan  Dane  Esq. 3130 

Hon^  Jeremiah  Nelson  Esq. -     -  3130 

Abraham  Bigelow  Esq.      -     -     -     -     -     -  3129 

Geni.  John  Walker 3129 

Honi.  William  Gray  Esq. 831 

[517.]  Honi.  Samuel  Brown  Esq. 830 

Moses  Townsend  Esq. 830 

William  Pearce  Esq. 830 

Samuel  Hoar  Esq. 830 

Samuel  Dexter  Esq.  1.  Elisha  Ticknor  Esq.  1.  John  Blanchard  1. 
William  Austin  1.  Thomas  Bur  ley  1. — 

Sorted,  counted  and  sealed  in  presence  of 

Charles  Bulfinch  ") 
Eben''.  Oliver 
Jon'^.  Hunnewell 
Jos.  Foster 
Nathan  Webb        \ 
Benj  Weld 
Joseph  Lovering 
Joseph  Austin 
Rob*.  Williams 

Attest,  Thomas  Clark,  Town  Clerk. 

Declaration   of  the  state  of  the  Votes  was  then  made,   &  the 
Meeting  was  Dissolved 


a 

a 

-1-3 
O 


Boston  Town  REGOKf)s,  1813.  329 


1813 

[518.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Citizens  of  the  Town  of 
Boston  duly  qualified  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meet- 
ing assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  eighth  day  of 
March  A.D.  1813  —  10  O'Clock  A.M.— 

Prayer  by  Rev*^.  Mr,  Eaton. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read  — 

Hon^.  John  Phillips  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator. 

Laws  respecting  the  Election  of  Town  Officers  —  read  — 

Thomas  Clark 
was  chosen  Town  Clerk  for  the  year  ensuing  — 

The  Oath  of   office  was  administered  to  him  by  the  Honorable 
Moderator.  — 

Charles  Bulfinch,  Ebenezer  Oliver,  Jonathan  Hunnewell,  Joseph 
Foster,  Nathan  Webb,  Benj".  Weld,  Joseph  Lovering,  Joseph 
Austin  and  Robert  Williams  Esquires  were  chosen  Selectmen  for 
the  year  ensuing. 

The  oath  respecting  Elections,  required  by  law  to  be  taken  by 
the  Selectmen,  was  Administered  to  them  by  the  Moderator. 

William  Smith  William  Phillips 

Redford  Webster  Thomas  Perkins 

Samuel  Snelling  Ozias  Goodwin 

Joseph  Coolidge  Ju"^.  Joseph  Richards 

Bryant  P.  Tilden  William  Mackay 

Ephraim  Elliot  Jonathan  Phillips  Esquires 
were  chosen  Overseers  of  the  Poor.  — 

[519.]  Thomas  Melvill  Andrew  Cunningham 

John  Winslow  Stephen  Codman 

John  Bray  "  Jonathan  Hunnewell 

Daniel  Messinger  William  Sullivan 

Benjamin  Smith  Nath^  Curtis 

Edward  Cruft  James  Phillips 

Bryant  P.  Tilden  Nathan  Webb 

George  Blanchard  Samuel  M  Thayer 

Joseph  Tilden  Thomas  Page 

Joseph  Austin  Benjamin  Rich 

Gedney  King  Francis  J  Oliver 

Joseph  Lovering  John  D.  Williams 

were  chosen  Fire  Wards.  — 


330 


City  Document  No.  115. 


Voted,  That  in  addition  to  the  Selectmen  twelve  persons,  shall 
now  be  chosen  a  School  Committee ;  and  the  votes  being 
collected  it  appeared  that  the  following  Gentlemen  were  chosen, 
viz.  — 


Rev*^.  William  E.  Channing 
Rev*^.  Horace  HoUey 
Docf.  Thomas  Welsh 
Charles  Davis 
Peter  O.  Thacher 
William  Smith 


Rev*^.  Charles  Lowell 
Docf^.  Aaron  Dexter 
Docf.  John  C.  Warren 

John  Heard  Ju"^. 

Francis  J.  Oliver 

William  Welles  Esquires. 


Voted,  That  the  above  named  Grentlemen,  who  conjunctly  with 
the  Selectmen  are  termed  the  School  Committee,  be  and  hereby 
are  directed  to  carry  the  system  of  Education  adopted  by  the 
Town  into  operation  ;  and  that  said  Committee  be  also  authorized 
&  empowered  to  manage  and  regulate  the  Government  of  the 
Schools  ;  and  to  execute  all  the  powers  relative  to  the  Schools  & 
School  Masters,  which  the  Selectmen  or  such  Committees  are 
authorized  by  the  laws  of  the  Commonwealth  or  by  votes  of  the 
Town  to  exercise. 


Messrs.  Benjamin  White 
William  Clouston 
Nath^.  Bradley  Jun"". 
Braddock  Loring 

[530.]  William  Green 
Joseph  Stodder 
William  Ellison  Jun''. 
John  Howe  Jun"^. 
Ed.  J  Robbins 
Joseph  Tucker 

were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Board 


Messrs.  John  Cogswell 
William  Ellison 
Noah  Doggett 
Thomas  Christie 
Eleazer  Homer 
Allen  Bowker 
Nath^.  Glover 
Richard  Thayer 
Henry  Blaek 
Moses  Eayres  Jun*' 

s  &  other  Lumber. 


Messrs.  John  Smith 
Benj^.  Clark 
were  chosen  cullers  of  Hoops  and  Staves. 


Messrs.  Henry  Purkett 
Nath\  Howe 


Messrs.  Thomas  Barbour 


Messrs.  Nath^  Howe 


Benj^.  Clark 
Charles  Pook 
John  Smith 
James  Brown 
were  chosen  Cullers  of  Dry  Fish. 


Gershom  Spear 
John  Bannister 
Benj*.  Owen 
William  J.  Hammatt 


Messrs.  Benjamin  White 

Nath^.  Bradlee  Jun*'. 
William  Ellison  — 
were  chosen  Fence  viewers. — 


and 


Boston  Town  Records,  1813.  331 

Messrs.  Joseph  Cobbet 

Rufus  Harrington  (resigned) 
Israel  Mead  Jr.  and 
Theophilus  Curtis  — 
wei-e  chosen  Hogreeves  and  Hay  wards. 

Samuel  Emmons  and 
James  Phillips  Esquires, 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Hemp. — 

Edward  Tuckerman  and 
Josiah  Snelling  Esquires, 
were  chosen  Surveyors  of  Wheat. 

Messrs.  John  Wells  and 
Richard  Austin, 
were  chosen  Assay  Masters. 

Messrs.  Michael  Homer 

Francis  James  and 
Samuel  Sprague, — 
were  chosen  Inspectors  of  Lime. 

The  Selectmen  were  chosen  surveyors  of  highways. 

[531.]  William  Smith  Esq. — was  chosen  Town  Treasurer 
and  Collector  for  the  ensuing  year. — 

Votes  —  for  a  Treasurer  for  the  County  of  Suffolk  were  received 
sorted  and  counted  by  the  Moderator  and  Town  Clerk  —  when  it 
appeared 

That  John  Winslow  Esquire  had  246  votes 

and  William  Smith  Esquire 1  —  d°. — 

Voted,  That  Samuel  Brown,  John  Lowell  and  John  Welles 
Esquires  be,  and  they  hereby  are  appointed  a  Committee  to  audit 
the  accounts  of  the  Town  Treasurer,  and  also  those  of  the  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor,  &  the  Board  of  Health.  And  said  Committee 
are  directed  to  report  the  sum  necessary  to  be  raised  for  the 
services  of  the  present  year. 

Voted,  That  the  consideration  of  all  money  matters  be  referred  to 
next  May  Meeting 

The  following  By  Law  was  passed  by  the  Town,  viz 

It  is  hereby  ordered.  That  whosoever  shall  at  any  time 
hereafter  exercise  the  dangerous  practice  of  Coursing  or  coasting 
on  Sleds  in  any  of  the  streets  of  this  town,  shall  forfeit  and  pay 
the  sum  of  Two  Dollars  for  every  offence,  to  be  paid  by  each 


332  City  Document  No.  115. 

offender  respectively ;  which  fine  or  penalty  shall  be  paid,  where 
any  offender  herein  shall  happen  to  be  under  age,  by  the  parent  or 
guardian  of  any  such  offender. 

Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be  requested  to  lay  the  foregoing 
By  law  before  the  Court  of  Sessions  for  confirmation. — 

On  the  Petition  of  a  number  of  the  I-nhabitants,  "to  adopt 
measures  to  remedy  the  growing  evil  of  forestalling  the  Market." 
it  was 

Voted,  That  Peter  O  Thacher  Esq.,  Benjamin  Russell  Esq. 
[5^3]  and  Mr.  Joseph  Callender  be  a  Committee  to  consider 
what  measures  it  will  be  proper  for  the  Town  to  adopt  in  order  to 
remove  the  evil  complained  of,  &  to  report  the  next  May 
meeting. — 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  Arnold 
"Welles  Esq.  for  his  faithful  services  as  one  of  the  School  Com- 
mittee for  many  years  past. 

Voted,  That  the  Thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the  Hon^ 
John  PhilUps  Esq. ,  for  his  services  as  Moderator  of  this  Meeting. — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
of  twenty  one  years  of  age  and  upwards  qualified  as  the  Consti- 
tution prescribes  and  legally  warned  in  public  Town  Meeting 
assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  o""^  day  of  April  A.D. 
1813  9  O'clock  A.M.— 

Prayer  by  Rev*^.  Mr.  Channing  —  ; 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read.  — 

Paragraphs  of  the  Constitution  or  Frame  Government,  relative 
to  the  choice  of  Governor,  Lieutenant  Governor  and  Senators  — 
read.  Also  the  Law  for  districting  the  Commonwealth  for  the 
choice  of  Councillors  &  Senators.  —  read.  — 

It  was  then  declared  by  the  Selectmen  that  no  printed  vote 
would  be  received,  and  that  the  vote  should  be  put  into  the  box 
unfolded.  — 

It  was  afterwards  declared  that  the  Poll  [523]  should  be 
closed  at  2  O  Clock  and  that  the  bells  begin  tolling  at  half  past 
1  O'clock.— 


Boston  Town  Records,  1813.  333 

Persons  voted  for  as  Governour  with  the  number  of  votes  for 
each  person  —  viz. 

His  Excellency  Caleb  Strong  ---------  3571 

Hon^  Joseph  B.  Varnum  ----- 1446 

Hon^  Samuel  Dexter 40 

Hon^  William  Eustis 8 

H.  G.  Otis  1      JosiahBradlee  1. 2 

Joshua  Ellis  1.     Benj  Austin  1. 2 


5069.— 

Persons  voted  for  as  Lieutenant  Governour  with  the  number  of 
votes  for  each  person,  viz.  — 

His  Honor  William  Phillips  Esq. 3578 

Honi.  William  King 1484 

C.  Strong  1.     W"\  Gray  1.     Josiah  Marshall  1.     -     -  3 

Amos  Lewis  1.     S.  Dexter  1.     James  Lloyd  1.       -     -  3 

William  Eustis  1 1 


5069 


Persons  voted  for  as  Senators  for  the  district  of  Boston  in  the 
County  of  Suffolk,  with  the  number  of  votes  for  each  person, 
viz.  — 

Honi.  John  Phillips 3597 

Honi.  Israel  Thorndike      -     -     -     --     -     -  3594 

Hon^  Josiah  Quincy     -_- 3594 

Honi.  John  Welles -     -  3599 

Honi.  Thomas  H.  Perkins       - 3593 

Honi.  David  Tilden      -     -     - 1459 

Samuel  Brown  Esq.      ------  1460 

Jonathan  L.  Austin  Esq.  -----  1458. 

Caleb  Bingham  Esq.    ------  1457. 

William  Little  Esq.     ------  1456. 


[534.]  John  C.  Jones  Esq.     -  2.  Russell  Sturgis  3    -     -     5 

Thomas  L.  Winthrop  -  1.  Richard  Sullivan  3-4 

Samuel  Cobb      -     -     -  1  Stephen  Codman  1  -     -     2 

Arnold  Welles  -     -     -  2  William  Brown  1     -     -     3 

■  William  Sullivan    -     -  1  William  Coolidge  1-2 

Sam^  E.  Coolidge  -     -  1.  Edward  Harris  1     -     -     2 

William  Beal     -     -     -  1  Samuel  Orcutt  1      -     -     2 

Samuel  May       -     .     -  1  Henry  Messinger  1-2 

Jon*^.  Hunnewell     -     -  1  John  Kuhn  1      -     -     -     3 

Gardner  Chandler  -     -  1  Benj  Weld  1       -     -     -     2 

William  Spooner 1 

Attested  Copies  of  return  of  the  persons  voted  for  as  Gov- 
ernour, Lieutenant  Governour  and  Senators  for  the  district  of 


334  City  Document  No.  115. 

Boston,  in  the  County  of  Suffolk  sealed  up  in  open  Town  Meet- 
ing, after  the  vote  had  been  declared,  to  be  transmitted  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  as  prescribed  by  the  law,  and 
directed  as  follows  —  viz*. , 

To  Alden  Bradford  Esq. 
Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

Votes  of  the  Town  of  Boston  for  Governour,  Lieutenant  Gover- 
nour  and  Five  Senators  for  the  district  of  Boston,  in  the  County 
of  Suffolk,  Sealed  up  in  open  Town  Meeting. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[^52i5.']  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Male  Inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  of  twenty  one  years  of  age  &  upwards,  qualified  as  the 
Constitution  prescribes  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Thursday  the  13*^^  day 
of  May  A.D.  1813.  9  o'clock  A.M. 

Prayer  by  the  Rev*^.  Mr.  Holley. — 

"Warrant  for  calhng  tlie  Meeting  —  read  — 

Paragraphs  of  the  Constitution  relating  to  the  choice  of  Repre- 
sentatives —  read  —  also  the  laws  of  the  State  regulating  the 
election  of  Representatives  —  read  — 

The  return  of  the  Assessors  signifying  that  the  Major  &  Minor 
Polls  of  this  Town  for  the  present  year  were  8826  —  being  also 
read  —  The  Inhabitants  were  directed  to  bring  in  their  votes  for 
Representatives  not  exceeding  thirty  nine. — 

Votes  were  received  by  the  Selectmen  untill  1  O'Clock  when  the 
Poll  was  closed.  They  then  proceeded  to  sort  and  count  the 
votes,  when  it  appeared  that  the  whole  number  of  votes  given  in 
was  1065  —  necessary  to  make  a  choice  533. — The  following 
(Thirty  nine)  Gentlemen  had  a  Majority  and  were  declared  to  be 
chosen  —  viz*. 

"William  Smith  Charles  Davis 

Harrison  G.  Otis  Benjamin  Whitman 

James  Lloyd  James  Robinson 
Daniel  Sargent                               '        WiUiam  Hammatt 

Jonathan  Hunnewell  William  H.  Sumner 

Benjamin  Russell  Ephraim  Thayer 

William  Sullivan  Benjamin  Weld 

Stephen  Codman  Ohver  Keating 

[526.]   Nathan  Webb  Thacher  Goddard 

Daniel  Messenger  Lynde  Walter 


Boston  Town  Records,  1813.  335 

Greorge  G.  Lee  Samuel  J  Prescott 

William  Porter  Lemuel  Sbaw 

Samuel  M.  Thayer  James  Savage 

George  Blanchard  Jonathan  Loring 

Nathaniel  Curtis  Joseph  Pierce 

Richard  Faxon  Andrew  Sigourney 

Samuel  Dunn  Thomas  Barry 

John  D  Howard  William  Harris 

Jonathan  Whitney  Joseph  Tilden 
and  Richard  Sullivan  — 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved  — 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Male  Citizens  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
duly  qualified  and  legally  warned,  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall  on 
Monday  the  24*^^  day  of  May  AD  1813  —  10  O'Clock  AM 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting —  read. 

Hon\  John  Phillips  chosen  Moderator. 

The  Selectmen  in  conformity  to  Law  passed  at  the  last  session 
of  the  General  Court,  laid  before  the  Town  a  list  of  Persons  they 
had  selected  to  serve  as  Grand  &  Traverse  Jurors  at  the  Courts 
in  this  State  &  at  the  United  States  Courts.  — The  Report  of  the 
Selectmen  was  considered  —  and  it  was  Voted.  That  the  Town 
confirm  their  doings.  — 

The  Committee  on  Accounts  [52*7]  made  the  following 
Report. 

The  Subscribers  a  Majority  of  the  Committee  appointed  to 
audit  the  accounts  of  the  Town,  have  attended  to  that  service, 
and  ask  leave  to  report,  That  they  have  examined  the  Town 
Treasurers  accounts,  and  have  found  them  duly  vouched,  and 
right  cast,  that  it  appears  there  was  a  balance  of  Cash  in  his 
hands,  on  the  first  Instant  of  Tlu-ee  thousand  and  ninety  one 
Dollars  &  thirty  five  Cents,  which  has  been  placed  to  the  credit 
of  the  Town  in  his  new  Account.  — 

The  Committee  would  also  report,  as  their  opinion,  that  it  would 
be  expedient  for  the  Town  to  grant  a  Tax  of  Seventy  five  thou- 
sand Dollars,  to  be  assessed  on  the  Inhabitants,  to  defray  the 
Expences  of  the  Town  for  the  current  year,  it  being  the  sum  that 
was  granted  the  last  year.  —  Although  it  would  have  been  desire- 
able  in  the  minds  of  the  Committee,  from  the  existing  depression 
of  affairs,  incident  to  a  state  of  War,  to  have  stated  a  less  sum, 
than  they  have  now  reported,  to  be  assessed  upon  the  inhabitants, 
Yet  as  the  debts  of  the  Town  unprovided  for,  will  probably 
amount  to  fifty  or  sixty  thousand  dollars,  the .  Committee  could 
not  feel  themselves  justified  in  reporting  a  less  sum. — 


336  City  Document  No.  115. 

But  when  it  is  considered  that  for  the  security  of  the  Rights  & 
property  as  well  as  the  convenience  &  comfort  of  the  Inhabitants 
within  a  few  years  several  new  and  extraordinary  objects  have 
been  obtained  by  the  expenditures  of  the  Town,  such  as  "  the 
Alms  House"  — ''Fsineml  Hall."  The  "County  House"  — 
burial  Ground — widening  of  Streets  &c  —  The  amount  of  the 
present  debt  of  the  Town  ought  not  perhaps  to  be  a  subject  of 
surprise  or  regret.  —  These  expences  will  be  found  to  amount  to 
more  than  Two  hundred  thousand  Dollars. — In  no  period  since 
the  first  settlement  of  the  Town  have  the  Inhabitants  in  the  same 
number  of  years  been  called  on  to  contribute  so  largely,  nor  so 
many  objects  of  permanent  utility,  or  importance  been  obtained. 
To  this  Cause  &  to  the  late  decline  of  Commerce  probably  may 
be  attributed  no  inconsiderable  [528]  part  of  the  loss  that  has 
been  suffered  by  the  Town,  from  the  large  amount  in  small  Taxes 
which  remain  uncollected. — 

And  the  Committee,  with  deference  would  further  observe,  that 
they  do  not  at  present  see  any  practicable  means  of  extinguishing 
the  debt  of  the  Town,  but  by  the  effect  of  a  retrenchment  on  the 
part  of  its  expences,  now  especially  on  those  which  relate  to 
improvements.  — This  in  a  few  years  they  hope  by  degrees  would 
extinguish  it.  An  increase  of  Taxes  at  this  time  for  that  pur- 
pose the  Committee  have  not  the  temerity  to  recommend  ;  but  to 
avoid,  as  far  as  may  be  possible  hereafter,  any  losses  to  the 
Town,  in  the  collection  of  Taxes,  the  Committee  in  accordance 
with  the  report  of  the  sub-committee  of  Finance,  presented  here- 
with, would  recommend  as  a  salutary  measure,  that  the  Treasurer 
be  instructed  to  effect  a  more  speedy  collection  of  the  Taxes 
which  may  hereafter  be  committed  to  him,  as  well  as  of  those 
which  are  outstanding. — 

And  agreeably  to  another  report  of  the  sub-Committee  ' '  of 
Finance  herewith  submitted,  they  recommend  "  That  apphcation 
"  be  made  to  the  General  Court  for  such  alteration  of  the  Law 
"  as  may  make  the  sums  taxed  on  Real  Estate  a  lien  upon  said 
"Estate  which  in  Case  of  transfer  of  the  property  would  secure 
"  the  Tax  to  the  Town  "  —  And  further  that  all  such  powers  may 
be  given  to  the  Treasurer  &  Collector  of  Taxes  as  that  he  may 
by  a  vigilant  use  of  them  enforce  a  more  equitable  adjustment  of 
the  public  burthens  and  remove  the  evils  to  which  the  present 
system  is  liable.  —  Should  the  aforesaid  sum  of  Seventy  five 
thousand  Dollars  be  directed  by  the  Town  to  be  assessed  on  the 
inhabitants  the  Committee  would  recommend  that  it  be  appro- 
priated as  follows 

To  the  drafts  of  the  Selectmen      .     -     -     -  53,000 

D°.  -     -     of  Overseers  of  the  Poor    -     -  23,000 

D°.  -     -     of  Board  of  Health  -     -     -     -  7,000 

$83,000 
Deduct  for  Rents  in  income 8,000 

to  be  assessed  on  the  inhabitants  for  the  year  1813.  — ,        $75,000 


Boston  Town  Records,  1813.  837 

This  Report  is 
[529]  with  all  due  Respect  submitted  for  the  consideration  of 
the  Town. 

Samuel  Brown  |  ^      gg  

John  Welles      j 

The  foregoing  Read,  considered  &  accepted  by  the  Town.  — - 

Voted,  That  the  sum  of  Seventy  five  thousand  Dollars  be  raised 
by  a  tax  to  be  assessed  on  the  Polls  and  Estates  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  this  Town  to  defray  the  expences  of  the  current  year.  — 

Voted  —  That  the  Committee  of  Finance,  consisting  of  the 
Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  Board  of  Health,  be 
instructed  to  cause  such  parts  of  their  reports  and  of  that  of  the 
Auditors  of  Accounts  to  be  published,  as  they  may  judge  will  give 
information  to  the  Inhabitants  on  their  money  concerns. 

The  Committee  on  the  subject  of  Forestalling  the  Market  made 
a  lengthy  Report,  which  being  read  —  it  was  voted,  That  the 
consideration  of  the  Report  be  referred  to  the  adjournment  of 
this  Meeting,  &  that  the  same  be  printed  for  the  information  of 
the  Inhabitants. 

Voted,  That  the  sum  of  two  hundred  Dollars  be  appropriated 
towards  maintaining  a  School  for  African  children,  under  the 
direction  of  the  School  Committee. 

Voted,  That  the  sum  of  Seven  hundred  &  fifty  Dollars  be 
allowed  &  paid  unto  Hon^  Thomas  Dawes  Esq.,  for  his  Salary  as 
Judge  of  the  Municipal  Court  for  the  ensuing  year. 

Voted,  That  the  sum  of  One  Thousand  Dollars  be  allowed  and 
paid  unto  Thomas  Clark  for  his  Salary  as  Town  Clerk  the  present 
year. 

Voted,  That  the  sum  of  Eight  hundred  &  sixteen  dollars  be 
allowed  and  paid  unto  each  of  the  three  Assessors  for  [530] 
their  Services  in  that  office  the  year  ensuing. 

Voted,  That  the  subject  of  the  compensation  to  be  allowed  the 
Town  Treasurer  &  Collector  for  the  present  year,  be  referred  to 
the  Committee  of  Finance,  to  report  at  the  adjournment. 

Adjourned  to  Thursday  the  3*^  day  of  June  next,  10  O'Clock 
A  M.  — 

Thursday  June  3*^. 
Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Moderator  being  absent, 
Ebenezer  Oliver  Esq. 
was  chosen  Moderator  Pro  tem. 


338  City  Document  No.  115. 

Adjoui'ned  to  Wednesday  next  the  9'-'^.  day  of  June  instant  10 
O'clock  AM. 

) 
Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  subject   of  Forestalling 
the  Market  was  taken  up,  considered,  and  accepted. 

Voted  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  citizens  generally  to  com- 
plain to  the  law  officers  of  the  Commonwealth,  to  the  Grand 
Jury  &  to  the  Justices  of  the  Peace,  of  all  instances  of  fore- 
stalling, regrating,  engrossing  and  of  all  other  fraudulent 
practices,  which  may  come  to  their  knowledge,  and  to  furnish 
the  necessary  evidence  of  the  same,  that  measures  may  there- 
upon be  immediately  taken  to  bring  the  offenders  to  punish- 
ment. — 

Voted,  That  there  be  annually  chosen  by  the  Town,  or  otherwise 
appointed  in  such  way  as  the  Town  shall  direct,  twelve  substan- 
tial Citizens,  who  shall  be  called  Inspectors  of  the  Market,  and 
whose  special  duty  it  shall  be,  to  enquire  after  &  cause  to  be 
prosecuted  according  to  Law,  all  forestallers,  regraters,  engrossers 
&  fraudulent  dealers  in  the  Market,  either  by  false  weights  & 
measures  or  any  other  way. 

[531.]  Voted,  That  the  license  of  any  person  to  sell  in  the 
Market,  who  shall  be  duly  convicted  of  any  of  the  Offences 
aforesaid,  shall  be  immediately  taken  away,  and  that  he  shall  not 
be  permitted  to  hire  or  use  a  stall  in  the  Market,  or  to  expose 
articles  for  Sale  there,  for  a  term  not  less  than  one  year  from 
and  after  conviction,  and  that  this  regulation  be  enforced  by  a 
by  law  of  the  Town. — 

Voted,  That  that  part  of  the  ancient  market  which  is  called  Dock 
Square,  be  appropriated  to  dealers  from  the  Country,  and  that 
no  inhabitant  of  the  Town,  or  of  any  neighboring  town,  not 
offering  for  sale  the  produce  of  his  own  farm,  shall  be  permitted 
to  occupy  the  same  to  the  exclusion  of  the  bona  fide  Country- 
dealer,  and  that  this  regulation  be  enforced  by  a  Bye  Law  of  the 
Town. — 

Voted,  That  the  approbation  of  the  Selectmen  be  withholden 
from  any  persons,  the  owners  or  occupants  of  any  house,  store  or 
cellar  applying  for  a  licence  as  a  tavener,  victualler  or  retailer, 
who  shall  be  known  to  aid  and  encourage  in  the  commission  of 
any  of  the  offences  against  the  Market,  which  are  herein  before 
described. — 

The  Town  then  passed  the  following  By  Laws,  &  ordered  the 
Town  Clerk  to  present  the  same  to  the  Court  of  Sessions  for  con- 
firmation,—  viz^ 


Boston  Town  Records,  1813.  339 

It  is  hereby  ordered,  that  no  person  who  shall  at  any  time  here- 
after be  convicted  of  either  of  the  offences  of  forestalling,  regrat- 
ing,  engrossing,  or  of  an}^  species  of  fraudulent  dealing  in  the 
Market,  shall  be  permitted  to  use  or  hire  a  stall  or  have  or  occupy 
any  stand  in  either  of  the  public  markets  of  the  Town,  or  in  any 
street  leading  thereto,  for  the  purpose  of  offering  for  sale  any 
article  of  Provisions  usually  sold  in  Market,  for  the  term  of  one 
year  from  and  after  such  conviction :  and  in  case  any  person 
shall  after  [53^]  such  conviction  and  within  the  said  term  of 
time,  presume  to  use  or  occupy  any  stall  or  stand  in  either  of  the 
said  Markets,  or  in  any  of  the  streets  leading  thereto,  for  the 
purpose  aforesaid,  he  shall  for  every  such  offence  forfeit  a  sum 
not  exceeding  Five  Dollars  nor  less  than  two  dollars,  the  one 
moiety  thereof  for  the  use  of  the  complainant,  and  the  other 
moiety  thereof  for  the  use  of  the  Town. 

It  is  hereby  ordered  that  no  person  not  offering  for  Sale  the  pro- 
duce of  his  own  farm,  shall  be  permitted  to  occupy  that  part  of 
the  ancient  market  which  is  called  Dock  square  —  And  if  any 
such  person  shall  presume  to  occupy  with  his  Cart,  team,  or  in 
any  other  way  the  said  Dock  square  after  being  ordered  there- 
from by  the  Clerk  of  the  Market,  he  shall  forfeit  a  sum  not  ex- 
ceeding Five  Dollars  nor  less  than  two  Dollars  for  every  hour,  in 
which  he  shall  continue  to  offend  in  this  respect,  the  one  moiety 
thereof  to  the  use  of  the  Complainant,  and  the  other  moiety 
thereof  to  the  use  of  the  Town.  — 

Major  Benjamin  Russell 
Col°.  Thomas  Badger  and 
Mr.  Joseph  Callender,  were  appointed  a 
Committee  to   select  twelve  persons   (one   from    each  ward)    as 
Inspectors  of  the  Market,  and  report  them  at  the  adjournment. 

Adjourned  to  Friday  next  10  o'Clock  AM.  — 

N.  B.  The  By  Laws  and  foregoing  Votes  to  be  pi'inted  in 
News  papers  after  [being]  confirmed  by  the  Court  of  Sessions. — 

[533.]  Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  of  Finance  was  read  and  con- 
sidered —  and  it  was  voted.  That  the  Senators  of  the  County 
of  Suffolk,  and  the  Representatives  of  this  Town,  be  requested  to 
apply  to  the  General  Court,  for  an  Act  to  be  passed  Authorizing 
the  "Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the  Poor  and  Board  of  Health" 
Annually  to  appoint  the  Treasurer  &  Collector  (or  Collectors,) 
of  taxes  for  the  Town  of  Boston.  — 

The  Committee  appointed  at  the  last  Meeting  to  select  one 
person  from  each  Ward  as  Inspectors  of  the  Market,  reported  the 
following  list  which  was  accepted  by  the  Town   -     -     -     -    viz^ 


340 


City  Document  No.  115. 


Mr. 

G-idney   King    for 

Ward  No. 

1 

a 

John  D.  Howard  j''.  - 

u         u 

2 

u 

Turell  Tuttle  -     1     - 

"         " 

3 

a 

Samuel  Hichborn 

"         " 

4 

u 

Zachariah  Hicks  -     - 

"        " 

5 

Cap'^. 

Jonathan  Whitney    - 

"       " 

6 

Mr. 

John  P.  Thorndike    - 

"        " 

7 

a 

George  Palmer     -     - 

"        " 

8 

CapJi. 

James  B  Marston 

"        " 

9 

Mr. 

Joseph  Allen  -     -     - 

"        "■ 

10 

u 

Edward  Gray  -     -     - 

"        " 

11 

u 

William  Brown  Jun''. 

"        " 

12 

Voted,  That  all  the  unfinished  business  contained  in  the  Report 
of  the  Committee  of  Finance  be  referred  to  the  next  Town 
Meeting 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[534.]  At  a  legal  Meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town 
of  Boston  qualified  as  the  Law  directs  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall 
on  Friday  11th.  day  of  June  A  D  1813  10  O'Clock  A.  M. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read 

Benjamin  Weld  Esq. 
was  chosen  Moderator. 


This  Meeting  was  called  in  consequence  of  a  Petition  from  Isaac 
P.  Davis  and  others,  now  pending  before  the  Legislature,  "  that 
they  may  be  incorporated  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  Mill  dam 
and  turnpike  road  from  Beacon  street  to  Roxbury,  and  erecting 
other  Mill  improvements  " 

The  petition  having  been  read  and  considered  —  it  was  moved 
&  Voted,  to  refer  the  same  to  a  Committee  consisting  of  the 
Board  of  Selectmen  &  one  Gentleman  from  each  Ward  of  the 
Town,  to  take  the  subject  into  consideration,  and  Report  at  a 
future  Meeting,  what  measures  it  will  be  proper  for  the  Town 
to  adopt  to  secure  their  interest  in  the  premises.  — 

The  following  Gentlemen  were  nominated  &  chosen  for  the 
Wards  —  viz*  — 

Col".  Thomas  Badger  for  Ward  No.  1. 

Redford  Webster  Esq.    -     -     -     -  2 

Dea —  Rainsf  ord 3 

Josiah  Marshall 4 

Lynde  Walter-     - 5 

Tho^.  W.  Sumner 6 


Boston  Town  Records,  1813.  341 

Benjamin  Austin  Esq.  -     -     -     -     7 
Sami.  M.  Thayer  Esq.  -     -     -     -     8 

Isaac  Winslow 9 

Sami.  Cobb  Esq. 10 

Col°.  DanT.  Messenger    -     -     -     -  11 
Dea  Faxon 12 

Adjourned  to  Monday  the  12"^  day  of  July  next  10  oClock 
AM. 

[535.]  At  a  Convention  consisting  of  the  Selectmen,  Over- 
seers of  the  Poor  &  Board  of  Health,  assembled  at  Faneuil  Hall 
in  Boston  by  virtue  of  the  following  Act  of  this  Commonwealth 
intitled  "An  Act  providing  for  the  appointment  of  a  Town 
Treasurer  &  Collectors  of  Taxes  in  the  Town  of  Boston  —  as  fol- 
lows —  viz*. 

Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

In  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  & 
thirteen.  — 

An  Act  providing  for  the  appointment  of  a  Town  Treasurer, 
and  Collectors  of  Taxes  in  the  Town  of  Boston. 

Sec".  1 .  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives 
in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the  same. 
That  from  and  after  the  passing  of  this  Act,  the  Selectmen  the 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  the  Board  of  Health  of  the  Town  of 
Boston,  shall  annually  in  the  Months  of  June  or  July,  meet  in 
Convention  in  the  Town  of  Boston,  and  appoint  some  suitable 
person  or  persons  as  Collectors  of  Taxes  in  said  Town,  who  when 
appointed  as  aforesaid,  shall  have  like  powers,  and  be  subject  to 
like  duties,  in  the  discharge  and  execution  of  their  said  several 
offices  as  other  Town  Treasurers  and  Collectors  of  Taxes  have, 
and  are  subject  to  in  this  Commonwealth ;  and  the  said  Town 
Treasurer  &  Collectors  so  as  aforesaid  appointed,  shall  continue 
in  office  for  one  year  and  untill  others  are  appointed  in  manner 
aforesaid  and  qualified  to  execute  their  said  offices,  and  a  record 
of  the  appointment  as  aforesaid  of  said  Town  Treasurer  and  Col- 
lectors shall  be  made  by  the  Town  Clerk  of  the  Town  of  Boston, 
in  the  records  of  said  town  kept  by  him,  and  the  said  Town 
Treasurer,  and  Collectors  to  be  appointed  as  aforesaid  shall  be 
sworn  to  the  faithful  discharge  of  their  said  several  trusts,  and 
give  such  [536]  bonds  to  the  said  town  of  Boston  conditioned 
for  the  faithful  execution  of  the  duties  of  their  said  offices  as  the 
Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  Board  of  Health  met  in 
Convention  as  aforesaid  shall  direct  previous  to  their  entering  on 
the  duties  of  their  said  several  offices  aforesaid.  — 

Provided  however,  the  said  Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the  Poor, 
and  the  said  Board  of  Health  shall  never  reappoint  any  person  to 
said  office  of  Town  Treasurer  or  Collector  of  Taxes  as  aforesaid 


342  City  Document  No.  115. 

untill  such  persons  shall  have  faithfully  &  fully  completed  the 
execution  of  his  duty  in  his  said  Office  to  which  he  was  appointed 
the  year  preceeding,  and  a  full  and  complete  settlement  of  the 
taxes  by  him  to  have  been  received  or  collected  according  to  Law, 
shall  have  been  made  or  [he]  shall  have  been  excused  therefrom  by 
a  vote  of  the  said  Town  of  Boston.  And  whenever  by  Death,  resig- 
nation or  otherwise  the  said  office  of  Town  Treasurer  or  Collector 
shall  be  vacant,  the  aforesaid  Selectmen,  Overseers  of  the  Poor 
and  Board  of  Health  shall  be  as  aforesaid  authorized  to  fill  such 
vacancy  by  a  new  appointment  in  manner  aforesaid.  And  all 
Laws  heretofore  made  respecting  either  of  the  aforesaid  offices  of 
Town  Treasurer  &  Collector  of  Taxes  in  the  Town  of  Boston, 
that  are  inconsistant  with  the  provision  of  this  Act,  be,  and  the 
same  are  hereby  repealed,  from  and  after  the  fourth  day  of  July 
next. — ^In  the  House  of  Representatives  —  June  16.  1813. 

This   Bill   having    had    three    several   readings    passed    to   be 
enacted. —  Timothy  Bigelow  —  Speaker 

In  Senate  — 

This    Bill   having   had 
two  several  readings  passed  to  be  enacted. — 

John  Phillips  —  President 

June  16'^.  1813.  Approved, 

Caleb  Strong  — 
Secretarys  Office  ) 
June  22^.  1813  j       a  True  Copy 

Attest.     Aldeu  Bradford 

Sec^.  of  Commonwealth 

On  the  28t^  day  of  June  AD  1813 
[537.]     Present  a  majority  of  each  Board 

Charles  Bulfinch  Esq.  Chairman. 

The  Law  authorizing  the  meeting   of   this    Convention  being 
read  —  it  was. 

Voted,  That  this  Convention  will  appoint  the  same  person  Col- 
lector of  Taxes,  that  they  shall  appoint  Town  Treasurer,  and  that 
they  will  appoint  but  one  Collector. 

Voted,  That  Wednesday  next  5  O'Clock  P.M.  be  assigned  for 
the  choice  of  the  Treasurer  &  Collector. 

Voted,  That  Mess  Bulfinch,  Whitman,  Weld  &  Mackay  be  a 
Committee,  to  consider  the  subject  of  collecting  Taxes  generally, 
and  examine  the  laws  relative  thereto,  to  determine  which  of 
them  remain  in  force ;  and  what  sum  the  Treasurer  &  Collector 
ought  to  receive  for  his  services. — 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday  next  5  O'Clock  PM. 


Boston  Town  Records,  1813.  343 

Wednesday  30  June  1813  5  O'Clock  PM 

The  Convention  met  according  to  Adjournment 

Present  a  Majority  of  each  Board. 

Agreeable  to  assignment,  the  Convention  proceeded  to  the 
choice  of  a  Town  Treasurer  for  the  year  ensuing  —  upon  sorting 
&  counting  the  votes  it  appeared  that  Mr.  Andrew  Sigourney  had 
a  majority  and  was  declared  to  be  elected. — 

The  Votes  for  a  Collector  of  taxes  for  the  year  ensuing  being 
brought  in  sorted  and  counted  it  appeared  that  Mr.  Andrew 
Sigourney  had  a  majority  and  was  declared  to  be  elected. 

The  Committee  appointed  by  this  Convention  to  examine  the 
laws  relative  to  the  collection  of  taxes  in  the  Town  of  Boston, 
and  to  consider  which  of  them  are  now  in  force  —  and  for  other 
purposes  —  offer  the  [538]  following  Report. 

That  they  have  examined  the  laws  which  have  been  enacted 
from  time  to  time  by  the  Legislature  for  the  collection  of  taxes 
in  the  Town  of  Boston,  and  are  of  opinion  that  the  law  passed 
for  this  purpose  in  March  1808,  is  in  full  force,  and  gives 
sufficient  power  to  the  Treasurer  &  Collector  to  ensure  a  prompt 
collection  of  the  Taxes,  in  addition  to  the  general  laws  of  the 
Commonwealth  on  this  subject. —  and  that  all  other  special  laws 
relative  thereto  are  repealed  by  the  law  under  which  this  Con- 
vention is  assembled. 

Your  Committee  report  as  their  opinion  that  the  Treasurer 
should  give  a  Bond  for  the  sum  of  twenty  thousand  Dollars,  & 
the  Collector  of  taxes  in  the  same  sum  conditioned  for  their 
faithful  performance  of  the  duties  of  their  office,  with  such 
sureties  as  shall  be  approved  by  this  Convention 

They  also  propose  that  it  be  recommended  to  the  Town  as  the 
opinion  of  this  Convention  that  the  sum  of  twenty  five  hundred 
dollars  be  allowed  to  the  Treasurer  and  Collector  in  full  compen- 
sation for  their  services  for  one  year  ensuing  &  for  such  Clerks 
and  deputies  as  they  may  find  it  necessary  to  employ. 

The  foregoing  Report  was  read  considered  and  accepted  by  the 
Convention. — 

Messrs.  Bulfinch,  Whitman  &  Mackay  were  appointed-  a  Com- 
mittee to  lay  before  the  Town  the  opinion  of  this  Convention  that 
the  sum  of  $2500  Per  annum  be  allowed  to  the  Treasurer  and 
Collector  in  full  for  their  services. —  The  same  Committee  to  pre- 
pare the  form  of  a  Bond  to  be  given  by  the  Treasurer  & 
Collector. 

Adjourned  to  Friday  next  2'^  July  1813  5  O'Clock  PM. 


344  City  Document  No.  115. 

[539.]     The  Convention  met  according  to  adjournment. 
Present  a  Majority  of  each  Board. — 

Mr.  A  Sigourney  appeared  and  declared  his  acceptance  of  the 
Office  of  Town  Treasurer,  as  also  of  Collector  of  taxes  for  the 
ensuing  year  —  and  proposed  Samuel  Smith  Esq.  and  George 
Blanchard  Esq.  as  his  bondsmen. 

Messrs.  Weld,  Austin,  Perkins,  Eliot,  Whitman  and  James 
Loring,  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  the  responsibility 
of  the  Gentlemen  offered  by  Mr.  Sigourney  as  his  bondsmen  & 
report. 

The  Committee  unanimously  reported,  That  the  Bondsmen 
offered  by  Mr.  Sigourney  who  has  been  chosen  Treasurer  and 
Collector,  were  in  their  opinion  ample  and  sufficient. — 

Ordered,  That  Mr.  Joseph  Foster,  Bryant  P  Tilden,  and 
Samuel  Dorr  Esqs.  be  a  Committee  from  this  Convention  to 
complete  on  their  part,  and  in  behalf  of  this  Convention  any 
further  service,  in  transfering  the  Books,  records  and  papers 
from  the  late  Treasurer  to  the  new  Treasurer  &c  — ■  which  may  be 
necessary  to  complete  their  duty  under  the  Act  entitled  an  "An 
Act  providing  for  the  appointment  of  a  Town  Treasurer  and 
Collectors  of  taxes  in  the  Town  of  Boston  " 

The  Oaths  of  Office  were  administered  to  Mr.  Andrew  Sig- 
ourney, chosen  Treasurer  and  Collector  by  Benjamin  Whitman 
Esq. —  a  Justice  of  the  Peace. — 

The  following  Vote  passed  the  Convention       -     .     .     -     viz*. 

Whereas  the  official  duties  of  the  Town  Treasurer  under  the 
former  establishment  will  cease  on  the  4*"^  of  July  and  it  will  be 
necessary  for  closing  the  Accounts  of  the  Treasurer  &  Collector 
&  his  deputies  to  employ  the  time  of  William  Smith  Esq.  it  is 
Voted,  That  it  be  recommended  by  this  Convention  that  the 
Town  should  allow  to  WilP.  Smith  Esq.  the  sum  of  five  hundred 
Dollars  in  addition  to  the  Salary  for  that  portion  of  the  year 
which  has  elapsed  since  his  choice  by  the  Town  in  March  last. 

Then  the  Convention  was  Dissolved. — 


[540.]  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  Town  of  Boston  at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  S*'^ 
day  of  July,  AD,  1813,  9  OClock  AM 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  —  read 


Boston  Town  Records,  1813.  345 

Thomas  Clark 
was  chosen  Moderator  — 

The  Committee  appointed  the  last  year  to  make  choice  of  a 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  anniversary  of  Indepen- 
dence Reported  —  That  they  had  chosen  Edward  lb*.  Loe  Liver- 
more  Esq.  who  has  accepted  the  appointment 

Adjourned  to  meet  at  the  Old  .South  Church  12  O'Clock. 

Met  at  the  Old  South  Church  —  where 

AN    ORATION. 

Was  delivered  by  Edward  S*.  Loe  Livermore  Esq.   to  commemo- 
rate the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

Voted,  That  the  Selectmen  be,  and  hereby  are  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  wait  on  the  Hou^  Edward  S'.  Loe  Livermore  Esq.  in 
the  name  of  the  Town,  and  thank  him  for  the  elegant  &  spirited 
Oration,  this  day  delivered  by  him  at  the  request  of  the  Town, 
upon  the  anniversary  of  American  Independence,  in  which  were 
considered  the  feelings,  manners  and  principles  which  produced 
the  great  national  event ;  and  to  request  of  him  a  copy  for  the 
press. 

Voted,  That  the  Gentlemen  Selectmen  be,  &  hereby  are  ap- 
pointed a  Committee,  to  apply  to  some  able  and  learned 
Gentleman  to  deliver  an  Oration  on  the  4-*^.  day  of  July  1814 
—  That  day  being  the  Anniversary  of  the  [541]  Independ- 
ence of  the  United  States  of  America ;  wherein  the  Orator 
is  to  consider,  the  feelings,  manners  &  principles  which  led 
to  this  great  National  event ;  as  well  as  the  important  &  happy 
effects,  whether  general  or  domestic,  which  have  already,  or  will 
forever  flow  from  that  auspicious  I^poch. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


At  a  legal  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston 
held  by  adjournment  from  the  ll*'^^  day  of  June  last  past,  assem- 
bled at  Faneuil  Hall  on  Monday  the  12*^  day  of  July  A.D.  1813 
10  O'clock  AM. 

Jonathan  Hunnewell  Esq. 
was  chosen  Moderator  pro  tern. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  consider  the  application  of  Isaac 
P.  Davis  &  others  for  a  Mill  dam  and  Turnpike  road  from  the 
bottom  of  Beacon  Street  to  Roxbury,  and  for  erecting  other  Mill 


346  City  Document  No.  115. 

improvements  "  Report,  that  they  have  attended  to  the  business 
assigned  them  and  have  examined  the  places  of  the  proposed 
undertaking  :  they  find  the  subject  will  require  further  time  to 
enable  the  Committee  to  give  it  the  attention  which  it  deserves  ; 
they  therefore  propose  that  they  have  liberty  to  make  their  final 
report  at  a  future  meeting  to  be  called  for  that  purpose.  And 
that  the  Selectmen  be  desired  to  call  such  meeting  when  they 
shall  find  the  Committee  ready  to  report.  P  order 

Boston  July  12^^.  1813.  Charles  Bulfinch,  Chairman 

The  foregoing  Report  was  read  and  accepted  by  the  Town. 

[543.]  The  Committee  of  Finance  to  whom  was  referred 
the  consideration  of  the  salaries  to  be  paid  to  the  Treasurer  and 
Collector  &  his  deputies,  report  as  their  opinion — That  there  be 
allowed  to  those  officers  for  the  four  Months,  commencing  in 
March  last  &  ending  July  4*^^.  at  the  same  rate  to  each,  as  was 
voted  to  them  by  the  Town  last  year  viz. 

To  the  Town  Treasurer  &  Collector  1500  P  Ann.  is  500 
To  each  Deputy  Collector       -     -     -  300  D"     -     -     100 
Treasurers  Clerk      ------  600  D°     -     -     200 

P  order 
Boston  July  2*^.  1813.  Charles  Bulfinch  Chairman 

The  foregoing  Report  being  read  a  motion  was  made  that  the 
same  be  accepted  by  the  Town,  which  being  put  passed  in  the 
affirmative 

The  following  proceedings  of  the  Convention  was  laid  before 
the  Town  — viz*. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Convention  composed  of  the  Selectmen, 
Overseers  of  the  Poor  &  Board  of  Health,  on  Wednesday  June 
30*^.  1813 —  Voted,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Town,  as  the 
opinion  of  this  Convention,  that  the  sum  of  twenty  five  hundred 
Dollars  be  allowed  to  the  Treasurer  &  Collector  in  full  compen- 
sation for  their  services  for  one  year  ensuing,  &  for  such  Clerks 
and  deputies  as  they  may  find  it  necessary  to  employ. — 

A  true  Copy  from  the  proceedings  of  the  Convention 

Attest.  Tho.  Clark.  Town  Clerk. 

Voted,  That  the  sum  of  twenty  five  hundred  dollars  be  allowed  & 
paid  unto  the  Treasurer  &  Collector  for  the  year  ensuing,  agree- 
able to  the  foregoing  recommendation. 

Voted,  That  Joseph  Foster,  Bryant  P.  Tilden  &  Samuel  Dorr 
Esq.  be  and  hereby  are  appohited  a  Committee  to  [543]  audit 
the  Accounts  of  the  late  Town  Treasurer,  to  receive  from  him  the 
Books,  records  &  papers  belonging  to  the  Treasury  department, 


Boston  Town  Records,  1813.  347 

&  those  of  the  Collector  of  taxes,  &  to  transfer  the  same  to  the 
new  Treasurer. 

Edward  Tuckerman  William  Brown 

Joshua  Davis  William  Hammatt 

Peter  O  Thacher  &  Thomas  Dawes  Esquires, 

were  chosen  Trustees  of  the  land  on  Boston  Neck.  — 

Then  the  Meetina;  was  Dissolved. 


At  a  legal  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  other  Inhabitants  of 
the  Town  of  Boston,  assembled  in  Faneuil  Hall  on  Wednesday 
the  20"\  day  of  October  A.D.  1813  —  10  O'Clock  AM. 

Warrant  for  calling  the  Meeting  — read. 

Hon^  Thomas  Dawes  Esq. 
chosen  Moderator. 

The  Committee  appointed  on  the  Petition  of  Isaac  P.  Davis  & 
others  Reported, 

That  they  have  maturely  considered  the  subject  committed  to 
them,  have  viewed  plans  of  the  dams  and  basins  proposed  to  be 
connected  with  this  Town,  and  the  other  extensive  improve- 
ments projected  by  the  petitioners.  — They  have  principally  con- 
fined themselves  to  the  consideration  of  that  part  of  the  plan, 
which  immediately  relates  to  the  interest  of  the  Town's  land,  and 
the  private  abutters.  The  Committee  publicly  invited  all  per- 
sons to  appear  and  state  their  objections  to  the  proposed  project. 
A  memorial  was  received  from  a  [544]  number,  but  the  Com- 
mittee are  happy  to  state,  that  few  material  objections  have  been 
made,  and  that  they  can  be  in  a  great  measure  obviated  by  suit- 
able provisions  to  be  inserted  in  the  grant  from  the  Town,  and  in 
the  act  of  incorporation.  — 

The  Committee  have  considered,  that  if,  to  the  commercial 
advantages  of  this  Town,  permanent  establishments  for  manu- 
factures of  various  useful  kinds  could  be  added,  the  interest  of 
the  Town  would  be  greatly  promoted ;  large  amounts  of  capital, 
which  are  forcing  their  way  in  distant  &  inconvenient  situations, 
would  be  retained  among  us  ;  all  classes  of  our  citizens  would 
find  new  sources  of  employment ;  and  an  extensive  tract  of  land, 
the  property  of  the  Town,  would  be  rendered  valuable,  and  in  a 
few  years  be  covered  with  the  habitations  of  useful  and  industri- 
ous citizens,  adding  strength  to  the  Town,  and  a  permanent 
accumulation  of  its  resources.  The  design  of  the  petitioners 
appears  to  embrace  these  desirable  objects  in  a  more  extensive 
degree,  than  any  which  has  hitherto  been  offered  for  public  con- 
sideration ;  and  should  the  plan  be  adapted  in  its  full  extent,  by 
which  it  is  contemplated  to  form  a  communication,  by  means  of 


348  City  Document  No.  115. 

the  Middlesex  canal,  of  Charlestown,  Cambridge,  Watertown, 
Brighton,  Brookline  and  Roxbury,  with  the  great  basin  west  of 
the  neck,  a  field  for  improvement  &  enterprize  would  be  exhibited 
on  all  the  shores  opposite  to  the  western  &  southerly  sides  of  the 
Town. 

The  Committee  therefore  propose,  that  the  Town  should  express 
their  approbation  of  the  plan  of  the  petitioners,  on  the  following 
conditions. — 

That  the  Town  will  cede  or  grant  to  the  corporation  when 
organized,  the  land  and  flatts  lying  about  the  shores  of  the  bay 
west  of  Boston  neck,  as  they  are  limited  and  circumscribed  by 
streets  laid  down  on  a  plan  herewith  [545]  presented,  and 
which  are  described  as  follows. 

Beginning  at  a  point  450  feet  west  of  Beacon  street^  thence 
running  Southerly  to  a  point  in  the  direction  of  the  middle  line 
of  /South  Bridge  street,  and  550  feet  distant  from  the  west  side  of 

Orange  street,  thence  Southwesterly  to  the  Westerly  line  of  Suf- 
folk street,  as  laid  down  in  the  plan  of  Town  lands,  being  350 
feet  from  Washington  street,  thence  Westerly  at  a  right  angle 
on  Dedham  street  350  feet,  thence  Southerly  at  a  right  angle  on 
Middlesex  street  500  feet,  thence  Westerly  at  a  right  angle 
on  Brookline  street  350  feet,  thence  Southerly  at  a  right  angle  on 

Worcester  street  900  feet,  thence  Westerly  at  a  right  angle 
on  Concord  street  350  feet,  thence  again  Southerly  at  a  right 
angle  on  Hampshire  street  1000  feet,  and  lastly  at  a  right  angle 
westerly  on  Northampton  street  about  1000  feet  to  the  boundary 
line  between  the  Towns  of  Boston  and  Roxbury.  The  Town  and 
individual  proprietors  to  retain  all  the  land  and  flats  within  said 
streets. 

This  Grant  he  upon  the  follovnng  conditions. 

V^.  That  said  corporation  shall,  within  five  years  from  the  first 
day  of  January  1815,  cause  to  be  erected,  in  a  direction  pre- 
scribed by  the  legislature,  and  not  further  North  or  East  than 
South  Boston  bridge,  a  firm  solid  Dam  from  Boston  to  South 
Boston,  faced  with  stone  on  the  Northeasterly  side  at  the  least, 
well  calculated  to  endure,  and  effectually  to  keep  out  the  tide 
waters  from  the  eastern  basin,  with  gates,  sluiceways  &c  proper 
to  let  the  water  out  of  said  basin. 

2*^.  That  said  Corporation  shall,  within  the  said  time,  cause  to 
be  erected  from  the  end  of  Beacon  street,  to  some  point  directed 
by  the  General  Court,  a  firm  &  solid  Dam.,  well  calculated  to 
endure,  and  effectually  to  retain  the  tide  waters  within  the  basin 
formed  thereby  ;  with  gates,  sluiceways,  &c,  proper  to  admit  the 
tide  waters  and  to  retain  the  same;  such  Dam,  or  such  part 
thereof  as  shall  be  necessary  [546]  for  a  Street  to  Roxbury  or 
Brookline,  to  be  at  least  forty  two  feet  wide  at  the  top,  and  of  an 
height  sufficient  for  a  good  and  permanent  road  thereon,  and 
faced  on  both  sides  with  substantial  Stone  walls,  except  in  those 


Boston  Town  Records,  1813.  349 

places  reserved  for  G-aies  and  sluices.  Which  road  over  said 
Dam,  shall  within  the  same  time,  be  established  and  finished,  in 
a  manner  to  be  provided  for  by  the  act  of  incorpoi-ation. 
3*^^.  —  That  the  said  Corporation,  or  other  persons-  having  a  right 
from  said  Corporation,  shall  within  five  years  from  1^'.  January 
1815,  erect  and  employ  Mills,  with  machinery  of  sufficient  power 
to  turn  fourteen  pair  of  common  sized  Mill  stones,  upon  sluice- 
ways leading  across  Washington  street ;  and  in  case  said  Cor- 
poration shall  fail  to  perform  either  of  the  above  conditions 
within  the  time  aforesaid,  then  the  grant  from  the  Town  of  Bos- 
ton shall  be  wholly  void,  and  the  land  and  flats  shall  revert  to 
the  Town. — 

4"'.  And  if  at  any  time  after  the  1^*  January  1820,  either  from 
the  insufficiency  of  the  Dams,  want  of  water,  or  other  cause, 
there  shall  fail,  for  one  year,  to  be  kept  employed  a  power  suffi- 
cient to  turn  fourteen  pair  of  Mill  stones  as  aforesaid,  then  all 
said  land  and  flats,  shall  revert  to  the  Town  —  But  should  pre- 
vious to  such  failure,  any  of  the  lands  or  flats  hereby  granted 
under  the  aforegoing  conditions  have  been  sold  by  said  Corpora- 
tion, conditioned  to  erect  Mills  with  their  necessary  buildings 
and  establishments  ;  then,  in  order  to  do  ample  justice  to  the 
parties  who  may  be  injured  by  the  non-fulfilment  of  the  agree- 
ment on  the  part  of  the  Corporation,  such  lands  shall  be  appraised 
by  Commissioners  to  be  appointed  for  that  purpose,  on  the  joint 
agreement  of  the  Town  and  the  parties,  to  appraise  the  value  of 
said  lands  exclusive  of  any  buildings,  and  their  award  shall  be 
binding  on  such  individuals  and  on  the  Town.  — 
5*'\ — That  in  selecting  situations  for  building  Mills  on  land 
belonging  to  the  Town  the  s*^.  Corporation  shall  be  first  [547] 
restricted  to  the  six  most  northerly  streets,  which  are  laid  out 
from  east  to  west  across  the  Town's  land  on  the  neck ;  and 
shall  have  liberty  to  lay  sluice  ways  in  the  middle  of  said 
streets,  free  of  any  expence,  for  the  land  so  passed  through ; 
provided  that  such  sluiceways  shall  be  substantially  and  well  laid 
with  stone  in  every  part,  and  of  suitable  depth  to  serve  as  drains 
and  common  sewers  to  the  adjacent  lots.  And  the  owners  of  such 
lots  shall  have  liberty  to  convey  their  drains  into  said  sluices  free 
of  expence.  And  all  earth  dug  from  the  trenches  to  lay  said 
sluiceways,  shall  not  be  carried  away,  but  shall  be  spread  to  form 
the  streets  and  raise  the  Town's  lots,  and  all  pavement  taken  up 
for  this  purpose  shall  be  relaid  at  the  expense  of  the  Corporation . 
6**^.  —  That  all  damages  or  injury  of  whatever  kind  which  shall 
arise  to  any  individual  within  the  Town  of  Boston  in  consequence 
of  this  agreement  between  the  Town  &  said  Corporation,  shall  be 
compensated  &  paid  by  said  Corporation,  in  the  manner  to  be 
provided  by  an  Act  of  the  General  Court. 

7*^.  —  And  whenever  the  Town  or  other  owners  abutting  upon 
any  of  the  streets  which  are  designated  as  the  boundaries  of  the 
Towns  grant,  shall  agree  to  build  any  of  such  streets,  the  expence 
of  building  the  same,  when  the  Corporation  shall  abutt  on  the 
other  side,  shall  be  borne,  one  half  by  said  Corporation  and  one 


350  City  Document  No.  115. 

half  by  the  abutters,  provided  that  the  Town  shall  not  be  at  any 
charge  in  maintaining  an}^  such  streets,  untill  they  shall  have 
been  completed  to  the  approbation  of  the  surveyors  of  highway's. — 

And  it  is   further  agreed  by  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Boston. 

8"\ — That  if  said  Corporation  should  think  it  expedient,  they 
shall  have  liberty  to  cut  a  Canal  in  some  convenient  place 
between  South  Boston  Bridge  and  Gibsons  wharf,  in  a  direction, 
and  of  dimensions,  suitable  to  admit  vessels  of  one  hundred  & 
twenty  tons  burthen,  from  the  east  harbour  into  the  full  basin  on 
the  west,  provided  that  such  canal  shall  be  well  faced  with  stone 
on  both  sides  ;  and  that  a  street  shall  be  made  on  each  side 
thereof  not  less  than  thirty  feet  wide  :  one  of  which  streets  shall 
border  immediately  upon  the  Canal,  &  the  other  shall  not  be 
more  than  one  hundred  feet  distant  from  the  [548]  other  side 
of  said  Canal.  And  the  land  through  &  over  which  said  Canal 
&  street  shall  pass,  shall  be  purchased  by  said  Corporation,  and 
said  Canal  and  streets  shall  be  built  and  finished  at  the  expence 
of  said  Corporation ;  said  Canal  to  be  furnished  with  suitable 
gates  or  locks  for  the  admission  of  Vessels,  and  also  with  draw 
bridges  of  the  most  approved  construction  when  it  shall  intersect 
Front  street  and  Orange  street.  Said  Canal  shall  be  toll  free  ;  but 
the  maintenance  of  the  same,  for  repairs, for  working  the  gates  and 
raising  the  draws,  shall  be  at  the  expence  of  the  Corporation. — 
9*^^. —  And  if  said  Corporation  should  think  it  expedient,  they 
shall  have  liberty  to  dig  a  Canal  through  the  Town's  land  on  the 
Westerly  side  of  the  Neck,  from  the  full  basin  to  Roxbury  in  a 
line  parallel  to  Washington  street,  and  at  such  distance  therefrom, 
and  of  such  depth  and  width  as  shall  be  regulated  and  approved 
by  the  Trustees  for  managing  the  Town's  lands  on  the  neck.  And 
the  earth  taken  out  to  form  said  Canal  shall  be  for  the  use  of  said 
Corporation  to  build  the  Dam  or  other  purposes. 

And  the  Committee  further  recommend,  That  agents  be 
appointed  by  the  Town,  to  attend  the  sittings  of  the  Committee 
of  the  General  Court,  to  whom  the  petition  is  referred ;  to  have 
the  above  recited  conditions  inserted  in  the  act  of  incorporation, 
or  made  the  subject  of  a  special  instrument  of  agreement,  between 
the  petitioners  and  the  Town,  which  shall  be  referred  to  and  con- 
firmed by  the  Act  of  the  Legislature.  And  that  such  Committee 
be  directed  to  have  inserted  in  the  act  of  incorporation,  such 
terms  and  regulations  of  Subscriptions  for  Shares  as  shall  secure 
a  right  of  subscription  for  a  due  proportion  of  such  shares,  to  all 
persons  who  may  wish  to  engage  in  the  undertaking. 
By  order  of  the  Committee 

Charles  Bulfinch,  Chairman. 

The  foregoing  Report,  was  read,  considered  and  nearly  unani- 
mously accepted  by  the  Town  —  and  Thomas  Dawes,  William 
Sullivan,  Josiah  Marshall,  [549]  Charles  Davis  &  William 
Hammatt  Elsquires,  were  chosen  agents  agreeably  to  the  recom- 
mendation in  the  report. 


Boston  Town  Recoeds,  1813.  361 

The  article  in  the  Warrant  ' '  To  consider  the  petition  of  a 
number  of  the  Inhabitants,  that  the  Town  would  take  measures 
for  establishing  a  work  house,  which  may  be  also  used  as  a  house 
of  correction,"  was  taken  up  &  committed  to, 

Thomas  Dawes,  Bryant  P.  Tilden,  James  T.  Austin,  Ozias 
Goodwin,  Ephraim  Eliot,  Charles  Bulfinch  &  Bedford  Webster, 
Esquires,  to  take  the  subject  into  consideration  and  report  at  the 
adjournment. 

The  Petition  of  David  Greenough  was  committed  to  the 
Selectmen,  to  report  thereon  at  the  adjournment. 

The  Committee  on  the  late  Town  Treasurers  accounts  made  the 
following  report  —  which  was  read  &  accepted  —  viz  — 

Boston  August  13"\  1813  — 
We  the  majority  of  the  Committee  appointed  by  the  Town  of 
Boston  by  a  vote  of  said  Town,  of  the  12"\  July  last  to  "  audit 
the  accounts  of  the  late  Town  Treasurer,  to  receive  from  him  the 
books,  records  and  papers  belonging  to  the  treasury  department, 
and  those  of  the  Collector  of  Taxes,  and  to  transfer  the  same  to 
the  new  Treasurer,"  having  attended  that  duty,  they  find  the 
annexed  accounts  to  be  correct  &  form  a  true  statement  of  the 
affairs  and  official  transactions  of  William  Smith  Esq.  late  Town 
Treasurer,  and  the  Committee  have  this  day  delivered  over  to 
Andrew  Sigourney  Esq.  the  present  Town  Treasurer,  all  the 
books,  papers,  securities  and  other  property  belonging  to  the 
Town  of  Boston  in  the  department  of  its  treasury  late  in  the 
possession  of  W™.  Smith  Esq. —  The  abovenamed  accounts  are 
well  &  truly  vouched  &  right  cast. — 

Bryant  P.  Tilden      . 

Samuel  Dorr 

Adjourned  to  Wednesday  10*^  November  next  10  OClock 
AM.— 

[550.]  Wednesday  November  the  10*'^. 

The  Town  met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  Committee  on  the  Petition  of  David  Greenough,  not  being 
ready  to  report,  the  subject  was  referred  to  the  next  Town 
Meeting. — 

The  Committee  chosen  by  the  Town  to  consider  what  measures 
should  be  taken  for  establishing  a  work  house,  which  may  also 
serve  as  a  house  of  Correction, —  Report  the  following  view  of 
the  subject. — 

In  the  year  1 735  the  General  Court  of  the  then  Province,  upon 
application  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  passed  an  act  for  employing 
and  providing  for  the  poor  of  the  town  of  Boston ;  by  which  act 


352  City  Document  No.  115. 

the  Town  was  empowered  to  build  a  workhouse,  and  adopt 
regulations  for  its  government. — In  the  year  1789  a  law  was 
passed  by  the  Legislature  of  this  Commonwealth,  entitled  "An 
act  for  erecting  of  workhouses,  for  the  reception  and  employ- 
ment of  the  idle  and  indigent.  This  law  is  general  and  empowers 
every  town,  or  any  number  of  towns  who  may  unite  for  the  pur- 
pose, to  build  workhouses,  and  directs  the  proceedings  of  the 
overseers  therein. 

The  laws  above  recited  empower  towns  to  erect  and  endow 
workhouse,  but  do  not  compel  them  so  to  do.  But  we  find  that 
in  1788,  an  act  was  passed  "  for  suppressing  and  punishing 
Rogues,  vagabonds  common  beggars,  and  other  idle,  disorderly 
and  lewd  persons  "  by  wliich  act  it  is  ordered^  that  there  shall  be 
erected  or  provided  by  the  Court  of  Sessions  in  every  County,  a 
fit  and  convenient  house  of  correction,  for  the  keeping  and  cor- 
recting and  setting  to  work  of  Rogues,  Vagabands  &c.  the 
provisions  of  this  law  are  effectual,  and  at  the  same  time  founded 
on  the  most  humane  principles,  calculated  for  the  suppression  of 
vice  and  for  the  reformation  of  the  offenders,  subject  to  its 
regulations. — The  practice  under  these  laws  has  been  as  fol- 
lows. —  Immediately  after  the  Town  of  Boston  had  been  em- 
powered in  1735  to  build  a  workhouse,  [551]  measures  were 
taken  for  that  purpose ;  and  by  means  of  subscriptions  in  aid  of 
the  Town's  funds,  the  building  was  erected  ;  and  it  was  used 
principally  under  the  orders  of  the  Overseers  of  the  poor ;  no 
house  of  correction  was  ever  built  in  this  county  as  directed  by 
the  law  of  1788;  but  a  part  of  the  workhouse  was  appropriated 
for  a  Bridewell ;  under  the  control  of  the  Justices,  untill  the  erec- 
tion of  the  new  Almshouse,  when  the  land  and  buildings  of  the 
old  Almshouse  and  workhouse  were  sold. 

The  agents  appointed  by  the  Town  to  superintend  the  building 
of  an  Alms  house,  workhouse  and  hospital,  proceeded  to  erect  one 
building  for  an  Alms  house,  intending  to  appropriate  such  parts 
thereof  as  could  be  spared,  for  the  other  objects ;  but  con- 
templating that  separate  buildings  should  be  devoted  to  those 
purposes,  whenever  the  Town  should  be  able  to  bear  the 
expense.  —  The  inconveniences  of  this  arrangement  were  ex- 
perienced within  one  year  after  the  erection  of  the  Alms  house. 
A  large  Committee  raised  in  1802,  reported  to  the  Town,  that  no 
division  of  the  Alms  house  could  be  set  apart  for  a  house  of  cor- 
rection, without  greatly  incommoding  the  poor,  and  conclude  their 
report  l)y  saying  "  that  they  would  propose  that  measures  should 
be  taken  immediately  for  the  erection  of  a  separate  building,  were 
they  not  sensible  of  the  burthen  the  Town  laboured  under  to  dis- 
charge the  balance  due  upon  the  almshouse.  — The  Overseers  of 
the  poor  also,  in  a  memorial  addressed  to  the  Town  in  May  1812, 
represented  the  inconveniences  under  which  they  laboured,  from 
the  necessity  of  appropriating  rooms  for  a  work  house  and  bride- 
well;  and  stated,  "that  they  had  endeavoured  as  much  as 
possible  to  accommodate  the  various  descriptions  of  persons, 
under  all  the  disadvantages  to  which  the  institution   must   be 


Boston  Town  Records,  1813.  353 

subject ;  under  the  full  hope,  that  the  finances  of  the  Town  would 
soon  enable  it  to  finish  the  establishment  according  to  the  original 
plan." 

With  respect  to  the  actual  state  of  the  Almshouse,  3'our  Com- 
mittee find,  that  there  are  at  present  in  that  house  403  persons  of 
which  283  are  old  people,  invalids,  children  &c  —  50  sick  persons 
in  the  hospital  rooms,  20  insane  persons,  affected  in  various 
\_552i^  degrees,  some  go  at  large,  others  are  in  close  confine- 
ment, 50  persons  employed  at  work,  some  well  disposed  &  able 
of  body,  but  above  ten  of  them  are  subjects  for  a  bridewell  or 
house  of  correction  &  are  locked  up. 

The  Committee  think  that  every  human  mind  will  be  convinced 
of  the  utter  impossibility  of  adding  to  this  catalogue  of  wretched- 
ness, any  of  those  debauched  and  profligate  persons  who  are  fit 
subjects  for  a  house  of  correction. — 

As  the  law  directs  that  the  County  Jail  shall  be  used  by  the 
Justices  for  a  house  of  Correction  untill  a  suitable  one  shall  be 
provided  ;  your  Committee  have  also  enquired  into  the  present 
state  of  the  Jail.  —  They  find  that  it  now  contains  fifty-seven 
persons,  and  this  number  is  smaller  than  has  been  usual,  owing 
to  the  increased  powers  of  the  Municipal  Court ;  which  has  given 
greater  dispatch  to  the  criminal  business,  by  the  frequent  Ses- 
sions of  that  Court  and  by  its  power  of  sending  the  convicts  to 
the  State  Prison.  —  Of  the  persons  now  in  Jail  25  are  confined 
for  assaults  and  batteries  &  petty  offences,  who  are  properly  sub- 
jects for  a  house  of  correction  :  it  may  be  received  as  a  fact, 
that  at  least  12  persons  of  this  description  are  permanent 
tenants  of  the  Jail ;  they  are  assembled  together  in  rooms,  not 
less  than  6  in  any  room ;  are  absolutely  idle  and  unemployed ; 
and  instead  of  their  confinement  effecting  the  purposes  of  refor- 
mation, they  are  vitiating  and  debasing  each  other,  by  their 
language  and  example.  These  objects  are  at  a  constant  expence 
to  the  public  of  two  dollars  Per  week  each,  whereas,  if  they  were 
in  a  building  properly  constructed  for  seclusion,  kept  upon  spare 
diet,  and  with  work  suited  to  their  capacities,  they  would  cer- 
tainly support  themselves ;  &  might  be  in  a  measure  reformed 
and  made  acquainted  with  some  reputable  means  of  obtaining  a 
livelihood. 

Your  Committee  think  it  would  be  a  reflection  on  this  intelligent 
community  to  enlarge  further,  or  comment  upon  this  statement. — 
If  in  the  year  1735  the  town  required  a  house  of  this  description, 
how  much  more  necessary  is  it  now?  If  in  1802  it  was  consid- 
ered inconvenient  to  the  virtuous  poor  to  mix  the  vicious  &  profli- 
gate with  them,  how  much  more  so  now,  when  the  pressure  of 
the  times  drives  many  persons  into  that  house,  who  a  few  years 
since  felt  no  apprehension  of  being  under  the  necessity  of  asking 
public  charity. 

Having  considered  the  proposed  establishment  necessary.  The 
Committee  have  made  such  estimates  as  the  time  would  permit, 
[553]  and  are  of  opinion  that  a  building  to  answer  the  present 
purposes  of  the  Town,  might  be  erected  on  the  land  west  of  the 


354  City  Document  No.  115. 

Almshouse,  for  20,000  Dollars ;  which  sum  could  be  borrowed  of 
individuals,  to  be  repaid  in  instalments  in  5  years,  without  being 
an  oppressive  burthen  upon  the  Citizens. — 

They  therefore  propose  that  the  Town  should  pass  the  follow- 
ing votes. —  That  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  be  appointed  Agents 
for  building  a  work  house,  part  of  which  may  be  used  for  a  house 
of  correction,  on  the  land  west  of  the  present  Almshouse  ;  to 
commence  the  same  as  soon  as  the  season  will  permit. 

That  in  constructing  said  building,  they  be  directed  to  build 
such  part  thereof  as  shall  appear  to  them  necessary  in  the  present 
state  of  the  Town,  and  upon  a  plan  capable  of  enlargement  in 
future. — 

That  the  said  Overseers  be  emjDOwered  to  borrow  of  individuals 
or  of  public  institutions  the  sum  of  twenty  five  thousand  Dollars 
for  the  purpose  of  erecting  &  furnishing  the  proposed  building, 
the  interest  of  which  sum  shall  be  paid  annually  by  the  Town 
Treasurer,  and  the  principal  to  be  paid  in  annual  instalments  of 
5000  dollars  each  :  for  the  payment  of  which,  that  amount  shall 
be  annually  raised  by  taxes,  &  appropriated  for  that  purpose. 

Charles  Bulfinch. 

The  foregoing  Report  was  read,  considered  and  unanimously 
accepted  by  the  Town. — 

attest  Tho'  Clark,  Town  Clerk 

Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  the  Town  be  given  to  the  Moderator 
for  his  services  at  this  Meeting. 

Then  the  Meeting  was  Dissolved. 


[End  of  Book  Nine.] 


LETTER  FROM  S.  PARKMAN  BLAKE  TO  CITY  CLERK 
S.  F.  McCLEARY  (see  p.   194). 


Cedar  Square 
Boston  Highlands. 
S.  F.  McCleary  Esq. 
City  Clerk, 

My  dear  sir. 

As  a  good  deal  of  public  interest  is  taken  in  the  valuable  por- 
traits in  Faneuil  Hall  and  particularly  in  the  most  valuable  — 
that  of  Washington  by  Stuart,  I  find  in  the  Town  Records  on 
March  10-  1806  that  my  Grandfather  Samuel  Parkman  offered  to 
give  to  the  Town  a  copy  of  the  painting  by  Stuart  to  be  placed  in 
Fanueil  Hall  which  offer  was  accepted. 

As  I  am  the  oldest  member  of  the  Parkman  family,  I  wish  to 
have  justice  done  to  his  memory  and  to  State  (as  there  does  not 
appear  to  be  any  other  record  on  the  Town  books)  that  my 
Grandfather  did  not  give  the  copy  proposed,  but  gave  the  original 
by  Stuart,  which  is  the  same  which  is  now  in  Faneuil  Hall.  This 
fact  has  always  been  known  in  the  family  and  to  confirm  the 
same  I  herewith  give  a  copy  of  a  letter  received  from  Miss  Jane 
Stuart  now  living  in  Newport  R.  I.  the  Daughter  of  Gilbert 
Stuart  (herself  an  Artist)  She  says  dated  July  22'^  1874  address^ 
to  Rev*^  John  Parkman  : 

"  The  Picture  of  Washington  now  in  Faneuil  Hall  was  painted 
by  my  Father  Gilbert  Stuart  and  presented  to  the  Town  of  Boston 
by  Samuel  Parkman.  This  circumstance  is  too  much  impressed 
on  my  mind  to  admit  of  any  doubt  whatever.  Also  that  it  was 
copied  from  the  original  head  now  in  the  Athenaeum.  Now,  my 
dear  sir,  if  you  will  take  the  trouble  to  read  the  July  number  of 
"  Scribner's  Monthly  "  you  will  find  an  authentic  history  of  the 
Washington  Portraits,  written  by  myself.  You  will  there  see 
that  my  Father  never  finished  but  two  Heads  of  the  great  Patriot. 
Permit  me  to  add  that  my  Father  never  put  his  name  to  any 
Picture,  he  ever  painted  in  his  life." 

very  respectfully, 

Y'-  Ob*  s*, 
1877  S  Parkman  Blake. 


INDEX. 


INDEX. 


Abutters,  73, 131,  223. 
Accounts,  agents  lor  erecting  new  alms- 
house, 111,  112. 
Board  of  Health,  to  audit,  58, 
63,  83,  93,  100,  121,143,163,178, 
193,  198,  210,  218,  234,  248,  253, 
263,  282,  300,  306,  313,  336. 
Overseers  of  the  Poor,  to  audit, 
11,  32,  63,  83,  100,  121,  143,  163, 
178,  193,  198,  210,  218,  284,  248, 
253,  263,  286,  306,  331. 
selectmen,  to  audit,  11,  82,  63, 

83,100,121,143.  163,  178. 
town  treasurer,  25,  41,  46,  47, 70, 
91,    106,    149, 
168,   186,    199, 
200,  201,   218, 
284,  253,   263, 
286,  300,    312, 
326,  331,   346. 
to  audit,  11,24, 
32,  46,  63,  70, 
83,    100,    121, 
128,   134,   143, 
163,  178,    187, 
193,  210,   248, 
282,  300,   312, 
326,  331,   335, 
346. 
Act,  for  appointment  of  Town  Treasurer 
and  Collector,  339,  341. 
Aqueduct  Corporation,  55. 
Board  of  Health,  56. 
embargo,  237,  241,  242,  244,  245. 
for  enforcing  embargo,  242. 
to  erect  work-house,  352. 
for  regulating   the  choice  and  ser- 
vices of  petit  jurors,  5. 
of  General  Court,  211,  230,  250,  350. 
prisoners  with  contagious   disease, 

removal  of,  56. 
relative  to  jurors,  5,  233. 
to  incorporate  mill  proprietors,  174. 
prevent  spread  of  contagious  dis- 
eases, 34,  36. 
punish  and  suppress  rogues,  vaga- 
bonds, 352. 
secure  the  town  against  fire,  27. 
Adams,  Abraham,  11,  63. 
John,  7,  231,  283. 
John  Q.,  124, 135,  148,  211,  218,  222, 

231,  250,  251,  301. 
Samuel,  7,  19,  85. 
Seth,  30. 
Advocate,  Town,  88,  98,  108,  120,131,142, 
152,  162,  169,  176,  187  192,  256,  257,  281, 
295 
African  Children,  School  for,  337. 
Agents,  to  act  with  Ward  Boylston,  269. 
almshouse,  for  erecting  new,  352. 
accounts  of.  111,  112. 
salary  of,  112. 
to  answer    indictment    against 

town,  282. 
to  attend  meetings  of  General 
Court,  350. 


Agents,  Faneuil  Hall  repairs,  allowance 
to,  220. 
for  land  on  Orange  street,  166. 
to  nominate  appraisers,  258. 
relative  to  Old  Town  House,  136, 

249. 
to  defend  town,  206,  215. 
Alarm  posts,  324. 
Allen  (Alline),  205,  239. 

Edward,  162, 177,  193,  210, 

228,  247,  262. 
Joseph,  172,  340. 
William,   96,  192,  281,  292, 
293,  298,  810. 
Alliance  with  France,  319. 
Almshouse,  3,  25,  83,  37,  64,  112,  113,  114, 
129,  149,249,271,852,358. 
agents,  to  superintend  build- 
ing of,  3.52. 
new,  appropriation  for,  46, 

48,  49. 
debts  to,  271. 
new,  cost  of,  65,  91,  106,  112, 

326,  852. 
new,  to  raise  money  for,  66, 
number  of  persons  in,  353. 
selling  of  old,  352. 
American  commerce,  317. 
Ames,  Fisher,  86. 
Amherst,  172. 
Araory,  Jonathan,  284. 

Rufus  G.,  22,  31,  40,  61,  81,  85, 118, 

141,161,176,194. 
Thomas  C,  183,  284. 
Andover,  172. 

Andrews,  Ebenezer  T.,«32,  252,  266. 
Edward  T.,  285. 
James,  13. 

John,  24,  34,  37,  44,  .51, 128. 
William,  77,  82,  100. 
Ann  street,  2,  8, 13,  205. 

application  to  place  posts  in, 
2,  3,  13. 
Anniversary  of  Independence,  1,  28,  50, 
75,   94,  110,  133,  155,  170,  190,  204,  221, 
236,  255,  275,  296,  320,  821,  845. 
Appropriations  of  money,  25,  46, 168, 186, 
202,  219,  234,  235,  273,  287,  295,  313,  886. 
Apthorp,  John  T.,  197,  208,  214,  2.32,  252. 
Aqueduct  Corporation,  2,  3,  4,  41,  45,  52. 

restrictions  on,  55. 
Arch  street,  90. 
Arming  of  inhabitants,  824. 
Army,    standing,    to    enforce    arbitrary 

laws,  245. 
Artillery  company,  53,  73,  276,  278. 
Assay  masters,  choice  of,  12,  33,  62,  83, 
100,  120,  142,  162,  177,  192,  209,  229,  248, 
282,  300,  831. 
Assessors,  abatement  of  taxes,  10,  32,  81, 
98,  106,  135,  273. 
assistant,  153,  154,  282. 
assistants,  choice  of,  125. 
choice  of,  10,  32,  35,  37,  59,  61, 

93,  99,  126. 
committee  to  advise,  826. 


(359) 


360 


City  Document  No.  115. 


Assessors,  consist  of  three  persons,  1-22. 
manner  of  choosing,  122. 
distribute   printed   tax   bills, 

122,291,293. 
make  retui-ns  once  a  year,  123. 
powers  of,  314. 

request     further     compensa- 
tion, 34,  178. 
salary,  2.5,  26,  46,  48,  71,  73,  93, 
107,  108,  132,  170, 179,  187,  203, 
220,  23.1,  275,  315,  337. 
statement  of  taxes,  61. 
to  furnish  selectmen  with  list 
of  all  rateable  polls,  23, 122, 
2.i0,  265,  284,  311,  334. 
A  ssize  of  bread,  17, 19. 
Allien tcum,  3.55. 
Atkins,  S.,  107. 
Attorney,  95,  116. 
Attorney-General,  307. 
Auction  of  land  on  Beacon  Hill,  293. 

near  South  Bridge,  293. 
public,  326. 
Auctions,  petition  for  out-door,  24,  26. 
Auditors,  examine  books  of  Town  Treas- 
urer, 134,  263,  268,  314,  337. 
report  of,  187. 
Austin,  344. 

Benjamin,  14,  18,  20,  23,  29,  35,  38, 
39,  60,  68,  70,  87,  102,  103,  104,  111, 
117, 119,  124,  127,  138,  140,  146,  165, 
178,  179,  211,  263,  270,  272,  284,  333, 
341. 
James  T.,  351. 
Jared,  301. 
John  L.,  5. 
Jonathan  L.,  4,  8,  29,  59,  68,  79,  98, 

118,  205,  212,  231,  333. 
Joseph,  280,  298,  326,  328,  329. 
Richard,  248,  263,  282,  300,  331. 
William,  328. 
Avery,  John,  7,  20,  30,  39,  51,  68,  87,  95, 102, 

125, 136,  146,  165,  173, 181,  196. 
Ayers  (Ayres),  Moses,  12,  33,  62,  83,  99, 
120,  142,  177,  192,  209,  228. 

Bacheldor  (Batchelder),  Josiah,  280,  284, 

SIO. 
Bacon,  Ebenezer,  172. 
John,  173. 

Joseph,  1417,  228,  230. 
Josiah,  140. 
Badger,  Thomas,  310,  339,  340. 
Badges  to  be  worn  by  chimney  cleaners, 

295. 
Bailey   (Bayley),  Thomas,  11,  25,  35,  46, 

62,  70,  82,  92,  99,  106,  128,  129,  150,  152. 
Baker  (Barker),  227,  246,  261. 

Ebenezer,  30. 
Balch,  Nathaniel,  22. 
Baldwin,  Loammi,  327. 

Thomas,  38,  96, 182,  265,  327. 
Ballard,  O.,  106. 
Baltimore,  outrages  in,  321. 

resolution  of  condolence,  324. 
Banks,  Boston,  287,  306. 

Massachusetts,  287,  306. 

Union,  2,  3,    92,  107,  112,  130,  150, 

151,  186,  201,  306. 
debts  to,  287,  294,  306. 
Bannister,  John,  299,  330. 
Barber  (Barbour),  Thomas,  11,  36,  63,  85, 
100,  120,  143,   162,  177,193,210,228,247, 
248,262,281,  299,  .330. 
Barker,  Benjamin,  107, 130,  150,  201,  287. 
Barnard,  Tristram,  1.54, 178,  218,  257,  268. 
Barnstable  district,  172. 
Barret,  John,  20. 
Barry,  James,  11,  36,  63. 
Thomas,  312,  335. 
Bartlet  (Bartlett).  Bailey,  172. 

■  Roger,    12,   ,33,   6;!,  84, 
100,  120, 143, 162. 
Bass,  Henry,  140. 


Battery,  South,  206. 

Batterymarch  street,  appropriation  for 
widening,  203. 
suit  to  recover 
land  in,  206. 
Baxter,  Daniel,  233,  284. 
Bayles,  J.  W.,  149. 
Beach  street,  71. 
Beacon  Hill,  90,  104,  106. 

claim  to  land  on,  205,  215. 
committee  to  dispose   of 

land  on,  293. 
Hancock  estate,  disposition 

of,  263. 
sale  of  land  on,  289. 
value  of  land  on,  286. 
Beal,  William,  333. 

Beggars,  act  for  supression  and  punish- 
ing of,  352. 
Bell,  Daniel,  12,  33. 
Belligerents,  243. 
Bells,  appropriation  for  1806,  202. 

1807,  219. 

1808,  2.35. 
1810,  274. 
ringing,  25,  46. 

in  Faneuil  Hall  cupola,  43. 
ringing  of,  67,  86,  145,  164, 180, 182, 

195,  197,  213. 
tolling  of,  7,  19,  21,  .38,  40,  50,  69,  89, 
102, 103,  124,  127,  135,  147,  166,  171, 
205,  211,  230,  232,  239,  2,50,  251,  264, 
265,  278,  283,  284,  327,  332. 
Bemis,  Josiah,  307. 
Bentley  (Bently),  Jonathan,  177. 

Joshua,   11,    30,  64,  82, 
100,  120,  143,  162. 
Bequest  of  Phillips,  William,  163. 
Berkshire  district,  172,  173. 
Berwick,  172. 
Bigelow,  Abraham,  328. 
Timothy,  342. 
Bills,  counterfeit,  106,  151. 
Bingham,  Caleb,  178,  205,  233,  265,  283,  301, 

310,  327,  333. 
Binney,  Amos,  140,  284. 
Blake,  Edward,  .30,  39. 

George,  13,   21,  87,  102,  103,    112, 

324. 
Henrv,  266,  281,  299,  330. 
James,  11,  30,  64,  82,  100, 120,143 
Joseph,  68. 
S.  Parkman,  355. 
Thomas,  31,  64. 
Blanchard,  Caleb,  10,  32,  ,59,  81,  90,  93. 

George,  117,  140,   261,  266,  280, 

285,  298,  312,  329,  335,  344. 
John,  328. 
Boardman,  Darius,  140. 

Thomas  S.,  22. 
William,  8,  12,  22,  126. 
Board  of  Health,  37,  56,  58,  72,  90,  93, 101, 
105,   107,  108,  109,  122, 
129,   130,  132,  133,  168, 
189,  219,  2.57,  258,  259, 
277,   282,  286,  287,  294, 
295,   305,  313,  326,  337, 
339,   341,  346. 
accounts,  to  audit,  6S, 
83,    100,  121,   143,  150, 
163,  178,   193,  198,  210, 
218,  234,  248,  253,  263, 
282,  331. 
appropriation   for, 

1804,  168. 

1805,  186. 

1806,  202. 

1807,  219. 
1808,235. 

1809,  251. 

1810,  270. 
1811,294. 

1812,  .313. 

1813,  336. 


Index. 


361 


Board  of  Health,  committee   to  consider 

opening    Granary 

Burying-ground,  257. 

drafts,  91,    106, 128,  149, 

151, 186,  200,  218,  336. 
duty  of,  57,  58. 
exempt  from  jury,  236. 
Boards    and     shingles,    surveyors     of, 
choice  of,  11,  31,  36,  64,  77,  82,  100,  120, 
125,  143,   149,  162,  177,  193,  195,  210, 
215,  228,  247,  262,  266,   281,  299,  330. 
Bond  of  collector  of  taxes,  334. 
town  treasurer,  334. 
George,  301. 
Nathan,  52. 
Booth,  Francis,  12. 
Bosson,  John,  99, 101. 

William,  10. 
Boston,  1,  2,  6,  7,  15,  19,  20,  21,  27,  28,  37, 38, 
39,  40,  42,  49,  50,  53,  54,  .55,  57,  58, 
66,  67,  68,  69,  72,  74,  75,  76,  77,  78, 
79,  86,  87,  88,  89,  91,  93,  94,  95,  96, 
101,  102,  103,  107,  110,  111,  116, 
117,  122,  124,  125,  126,  127,  130, 
132,  133,  134,  135,  136,  137,   138, 
139,  140,  144,  145,  146,  147,  150, 
155,  156,  157,  1.58,  159,   160,   164, 
165,  166,  167,  168,  170,  171,   173, 
175,  180,  181,  182,  183,  186,   188, 
189,  190,  194.  195,  196,  197,   198, 
202,  203,  204,  205,  207,  210,  212, 
213,  214,  217,  221,  222,  223,  225, 
226,  230,  232,  233,  236,  237,  238, 
239,  240,  245,  249,  251,  252,  255, 
256,  257,  258,  260,  264,  265,   266, 
276,  278,  279,  284,  285,  296,   297, 
300,  302,  311,  312,  315,  320,  321, 
326,  327,  328,  329,  332,  334,   335, 
340,  344,  345,  347,  355. 
Common,  41,  45,  53,  73,  76,  109,  148, 
193,  194. 
sea  wall  on,  194. 
Highlands,  355. 
Mill  Corporation,  217,  218. 

contract    with 
p  r  o  p  r  i  etors, 
223,  224. 
Neck,  burying-ground  on,  206. 

candle  manufactory  on,  16. 
land  on,  16,  71,  101, 104,  105, 

108,  128, 134,  233. 
meeting  house  on,  206. 
rope  walk  on,  84. 
slaughter  honse  on,  16. 
turnpike  on,  156. 
Bolter,  Thomas,  14, 
Bourn  (Bourne),  Ez.  A.,  301. 
Judge,  112. 
Mr.,  48,  72. 
Shearjasheb,  73, 129. 
Bowdoin,  James,  7, 19,  20,  21,  38,  39,  68,69, 
86,  87,  89,  102, 124, 127,  145,  146,  147,  165, 
172. 
Bowker,  Allen,  215,  228,  247,  262,  281,  299, 

330. 
Bowman,  Edmund,  140. 
Bovd,  Ebenezer  L.,  30. 
Boyle,  John,  310. 
Boylston,  Thomas,  76,  77,  269. 
"Ward  Nicholas,  269. 
Brace,  David,  12. 
Bradford,  Alden,  327,  334,  342. 
Col.,  34,  78. 
Gamaliel,  266,  316. 
Samue],  9,  30,  60,  80,  97,  118, 141, 

161,  176,191,208,227. 
Sheriff,  279. 
Bradlee  (Bradley),  David,  116, 137,  140. 
Josiah,  333. 
Nathaniel,     126,    149, 
162,  177,193,210,228, 
247,  262,281,299,330. 
Thomas,  12,  24,  32,  62, 
83. 


Bray,  John,  11,  36,  60,  63,  80,  98,  116  117, 
118,  137,  141,  161, 176,  191,  194,  208,  227, 
246,  261,  280,  298,  329. 
Brazer  (Brazier),  John,  117,  126,  135,  138, 

140,  179,  304. 
Bread,  13,  19,  42. 

assize  of,  17,  19. 
Breen,  E.,  46. 
Brewer,  Nathaniel,  284. 

Samuel,  310. 
Brewster,  Oliver,  8,  29,  59,  80,  98,  118,  141, 

161. 
Bridge,  224. 

Jeremiah,  284. 

from  South  End  to  Dorchester, 
138, 158, 166. 
not  to  build,  148,  149. 
from     South     street     to     South 

Boston,  174. 
over  canal,  350. 
South  Boston,  199,  267,  348. 
swing,  2,  3. 
Brigade,  Legionary,  189. 
Brighton,  348. 
Brimmer,  Herman,  11,  25,  32,40,  47,  63,  64, 

71,  82,  92. 
Bristol  District,  172. 
Brooks,  Eleazer,  172. 

Peter  C,  196,  212,   231,  250,   265, 
283,  301. 
Brookline,  348. 
Brown,  E.,  25. 

James,  330. 
John,  292,  293,  298,  310. 
Samuel,  2,  11, 13,  20,  21,  25,  32,  35, 
47,  51,  63,  68,  70,  71,  82,  84,  87,  92, 
100,  104,  106, 113, 119,  121, 127,128, 
130, 143, 146,  149, 150,  152, 159, 163, 
164,  167,  168, 178,  181,  186, 193,203, 
210,  212,  215,  216,  220,231,  248,250, 
263, 265,  270,  272,  274,  282,  283,294, 
300, 301,  313,  328, 331,  333,  337. 
William,  9,  22, 24,  30,  60,  80,  97, 105, 
117,118, 119,  126, 127, 128,  140, 141, 
147, 148, 153, 161, 165, 167,  169,  178, 
180,  183,  197,  198,  213,214,218,  232, 
233,  237,  238,  248,  251,  252,  263,  266, 
270,  272,  274,  282,  285,  286,  294, 295, 
311,313,  316,333,340,347. 
Brush  Hill  Turnpike,  256,  267. 

Corporation,  267. 
Buckminster,  Joseph  S.,  232,  279,  280,  299, 

326. 
Building  of  new  school-house,  144. 
Buildings,  law   regulating   building   of, 
138,  139, 
relative  to  wooden,  13. 
Bulflnch,  Charles.  .59,  61,  73,  79,  87,  91,  96, 
106,  109,  115,117,118,  131,141, 
148,  160,  175,  191,207,  226,  246, 
258,  259,  260,  279,  296,  297,  .326, 
328,  329,  342,  343,  346,  350,  351, 
354. 
Justice,  118,  140, 160, 190,  207,226. 
Bulls,  14, 109,  253. 
Burial  places,  chapel,  276,  277. 
granary,  276,  277. 
opening  of  granary,  257. 
north,  276. 

land  adjoining  north,  260. 
need  of  enlarging  north, 

257. 
Innd  on  neck  for,  277. 
on  town  land,  276. 
south,  73. 
Burley,  Thomas,  328. 
Burt,  Edward,  11,  36,  63. 
Bussey,  Benjamin,  212,  232,  252. 
Butterfleld,   John,  125,  143,  162,  177,  193, 

210,  228,  247,  262,  281. 
Butts,  Noah,  10,  31,  64,  82,  99. 
Buxton,  173. 
By-laws,  71,  72,  73,  74,  104,  .331,  339. 

regulating  trucks,  53,  74, 144. 


City  Document  No.  115. 


By-laws,  relative  to  market,  43,  338,  339. 
repealed,  109,  253. 
revision  of,  100,  109, 138. 

Cabbit,  James,  192. 
Joseph,  10)2. 
Cabbot  (Cabot),  George,  68, 182,  211,  251. 

James,  328. 
Callander  (.Callender),  John,  28,  183,  197, 
214,  232,  252,  266. 
Joseph,  117,  332, 
339 
Cambridge,  172,  348. 

street,  129. 
Canal,  between  South  Boston  bridge  and 
Gibson's  wharf,  3.50. 
proposed,  expense  of,  350. 
Candle  manufactory  on  the  neck,  16. 
Candles,  25,  46. 
Cary,  Rev.,  lib. 
Cedar  square,  355. 
Centinel,  5. 
Centre  street,  105. 
Champney,  John,  11. 
Chandler,  Gardner,  333. 
John,  266,  285. 
Channing,  Francis  Dana,  204, 232, 252,  266. 
William  E.,  171,  229,  261,  280, 
299  330  332 
Chapman,  Jonathan,  147, 160, 175,  194,  207, 

227,  232,  249,  324. 
Charles  river,  224. 
Charlestown,348. 
Chelsea,  308,  325. 

proportion  of  county  tax,  308. 
Chesapeake,  222. 
Children,  schooling  of,  295. 

African,  school  for,  337. 
Chimney  sweepers,  109,  295. 
Christie   (Christy),  Thomas,  193,  210,228, 

247,  262,  281,  299,  330. 
Chronicle,  5. 

Churches.    (See  Meeting-houses.) 
Circus,  278. 
Claim  of  William  Cooper's  heirs,  268. 

Thos.  Boylston  heirs,  269. 
Clap,  Samuel,  8,  9,  26,  29,  32,  47,  61,  71,  80, 
92,  97,   107,  123,  130,  132,   134,  149,  1.50, 
160, 167,  175,  181, 191,  196,  208,  212,  227, 
246,  2,50. 
Clark,   Benjamin,  228,  248,  262,  281,  299, 
330. 
John,  29. 

Thomas,  259, 260,  275,  279,  295,  296, 
297,  315,  320,  328,  329,  337,  345, 346, 
354. 
Clay,  Joseph,  230. 
Clerks  of  town  treasurer,  275,  313. 

the  market.    (Sec  Market.) 
Clocks,  appropriation  for,  25,  46. 

1806,  202. 

1807,  219. 

1808,  235. 
Clough,107,129. 

Clouston,  Louis,  4. 

William,  11,  31,  64,  82,  100,  120, 
l43, 162,  177,  193,  210,  228,  247, 
262,  281,  299,  330. 
Coal,  25,  46. 

Coasting,  law  against,  331. 
Coates   (Coats),  Benjamin,  176,  191,  208, 

227,  246,  261,  280,  298. 
Cobb,  121. 

David,  171,  196,  211,  231,  2,50,  264. 
Samuel,  22,  40,  59,  69,  80,  89,  103,  2.52, 
266,28.5,  311,  333,  341. 
Cobbet   (Cobbit),  .Tames,  177, 192. 

Joseph ,  209, 248, 263, 281 , 

300,  331. 

Codman,  John,  2,  20,  21,  39,  40,  51,  52,  56, 

68,  87,  102,  112, 146,  148. 

Stephen,  30,  60.  80,  98,  104,  118, 

141,161,  176,  178,  179,  181,  182, 

184,  188, 190,  191,  195,  197,  207, 


Codman,  Stephen,  208,  214,  227,  231,  232, 
233,  236,  237,  238,  239,  240,  245, 
246,  251,  2.59,  261,  279,  280,  282, 
286,  292,  293,  294,  295,  297,  298, 
300,  310,  311,  313,  329,  333,  334. 
Coffin,  John  G.,  285. 

Peleg,  124. 
Cogswell,  John,  11,  31,  64,  82, 100, 120,  143, 
162,  177, 193,  210,  228,  262,  281,  299,  330. 
Collector  of  taxes.    (5ee  Taxes.) 
Commerce,  foreign,  prohibited,  241,  242. 
decline  of,  336. 
freedom  of,  316. 
Commercial  restrictions,  317. 

rights,  317,  320. 
Commissioners,  223,  225,  .^49. 

choice  of,  218. 
Committees,  accounts,  to  audit,  11,  24,  32, 
46,63,  70,  83,91,100,111,121, 
128,  143,  149,  1.50,  163,  178, 
187,   193,  198,  210,  2.34,  248, 
253,  263,  272,  282,  300,  312, 
331,  346. 
almshouse, for  building  new, 
33,   37,  48,   65,  91,  112,  113, 
352. 
aqueduct,    to    confer   with 
proprietors  of,  2,  3,  4,  41, 
45,  52,  55. 
assessors,  assistants  to,  122, 
125. 
town  treasurer, 
and  collector  of 
taxes,    to    con- 
sider   compen- 
sation  for,  130, 
131,179. 
auctions,    relative    to    out- 
door, 24,  26. 
bakers,  19. 
bank,  new,  148, 153. 
bequest  of  William  Phillips, 

163. 
bread,  13. 

bridges,  138,  148, 158. 
burglars,  measures  for  pro- 
tection against,  17. 
by-laws,  73,  74. 

revision  of,  100. 
constables,  120, 121. 
correspondence,  choice  of, 
222. 
resolutions 
of,  222. 
court,    compensation     to 
judge,  88. 
General,  34,  35,  3.50. 
diseases,  contagious,  34,  36. 
dock,  relative  to  filling  up, 
51,  64. 
to  investigate  town's 

claim  to,  128, 131. 
yard,  measures  to  es- 
tablish, 84,  85. 
Dorchester,  to  annex,  157. 
embargo  act,  237. 
Are  wards,  compensation  to, 

178,  179.  216. 
fish  market,  relative  to,  24, 

26. 
Fort  Hill,  to  exchange  land 

on,  72,  73. 
Hancock,     Oov.,    heirs    of, 
claim  lo  land  on  Beacon 
Hill,  205,  215,  268. 
health,  35,  3fi,  .37,  58. 
hearses  at  funerals,  17. 
jury  boxes,  to  regulate,  140, 

235,  236. 
lamps,  52,  .53,  .56. 
land,  relative  to,  163. 
laws,  revision  of,  110. 
market,  rearulatlons  of,  41, 
43,44,332,337,338,339. 


Index. 


363 


Committees,  market,    selling    stands    at  | 
auction,35, 36,  87. 
Mill  pond,  filling  up,  159, 164, 

169,  174,  216,  217,  2'20,  223. 
neck,  land  on,  U,  15,  71, 104, 

105,  108,  128. 
negroes,  increase  of,  72,  73. 
Old  State  House,  disposal  of, 
34,  35,  51, 54,  78, 117, 136,  153, 
154,  249. 
orator,  to  provide  for  July 
Fourth,  1,  28,  50,  75,  94,110, 
132,  155,  170,   189,   204,  221, 
236,  255,  275,  296,  320,  345. 
petition,  artillery  company, 
278. 
Clouston,  Liouis,  4. 
Davis,  Amasa,   52, 

53. 

Davis,    Isaac   and 

others,  340, 345,347. 

fishermen, 34,  37,  44. 

French,    Abraham, 

24,26 
Fuller,  Asa,  13,  15. 
General  Court,  240. 
Hancock  heirs,  268. 
Hill,  Henry,  14,  16, 

17. 
Hunt,  Samuel,  178, 

179, 184,  187. 
Ivers,  James,  215. 
Jaquish,  Aaron,  24, 

26. 
Knapp,  Josiah,  71. 
legislature,  243. 
Odin,  John,  326. 
Patten,    Nathaniel, 

84. 
Powell,  William,  51, 

56. 
Pratt,   James,    101, 

105. 
Smith,  William,  311. 
Tates,  James,  4,  5. 
Thwing,  James,  4. 
town  treasurer, 
.313. 
police,  by-laws  for,  72. 
posts  in  Ann  street,  to  erect, 

3  13. 
report  of,  16, 17, 19,  26,  44,47, 
48,  .52,  .53,  54, 55, 56, 58, 64, 65, 
70,  73,  77,  85,  88,  92,  106,  108, 
109,   112,   114,  122,  125,  128, 
131,  144,  148,  151,   1.54,   156, 
158,  163,  168,  174,  179,  184, 
186,   188,    194,  215,  216,  222, 
223,  2.55,   2.57,  258,  259,  269, 
271,   272,  277,  286,  302,  312, 
313,  316,   320,  335,  387,  338, 
344,  346,   347,  3.51. 
rope.walks  at  bottom  of  Com- 
mon, 148, 1.53, 
194. 
West  Boston, 
14, 15. 
schools.    (See  Schools.) 
streets,  105, 106,  257,  258. 
Suffolk  County  affairs,  153, 

156, 1.59. 
town's  financial  affairs,  119, 
122, 123,  159. 
money,  to  place  on 
interest,  8. 
town,  security  of,  112, 

against  fires, 
112, 137. 
treasurer,  accounts,  25, 
41,  70,  106, 
128,  149, 168. 
and  collec- 
tor, ■  salarv 
of,  167. 


Committees,  town  treasurer,  to   issue 
notes,  121, 124, 131. 
trucks,  52. 
voters,  to  revise  list  of,  117, 

189. 
Washington,     George,      to 
draw    up   resolutions   on 
death  of,  78. 
wharfingers,  to  confer  with, 

144. 
will  of   Boylston,  Thomas, 

76,  77. 
workhouse,  113, 114,  351. 
Common,  bulls  on,  358. 
sewer,  326. 
street,  104. 
Commonwealth,  the,  6,  7, 10,  17,  82,  84,  36, 
51,  ,54,  61,  63,  66,  72,  74, 
81,95,  97,   109,  119,1,35, 
136,  142,   149,  161,    173, 
176,  192,   205,   209,   239, 
240,  261,   278,  280,    297, 
320,   328,  341,  343. 
amount  due  the,  200. 
secretary  of,  7,  39,  6S,  87, 
102,    125,   136,    146,  165, 
173,   181,   196,   205,  212, 
231,  239,   251,   265,  279, 
284,  .302,  328,   334. 
Confederation,  fundamental  principle  of, 

241. 
Congress,  7,  28,  51,  135,  136,  173,  205,  287, 

238,239,278,316,317. 
Connor,  Barney,  83,  99,  120, 142,  162,  177, 

192, 209,  228,  248,  263,  281. 
Constables,  120,  128,273,  307. 

appropriation  for  1806,  202. 

1807,  219. 

1808,  284. 
1810,  273. 

choice  of,  10,  27,  31,  36,  41,  64, 

78,  82,  99,  101,  121. 
(See,  also.  Watch.) 
Constitution,  or  frame  of  government,  ]9> 
21,  38,  40,  67,  69,  86,  89,  102. 
103,  124,  126,  127,   145,  146, 
164,  166,   180,  182,  195,  197, 
211,  213,  230,  232,  250,  251, 
264,  265,  275,  276,  283,  284, 
300,  311,  832,  334. 
provisions  of,  241. 
Contract  of  town  with  Boston  Mill  Cor- 
poration, 223,  224. 
Convention,  for  Common  Good,  825. 

to  appoint  Town  Treasurer 
and    Collector   of    Taxes, 
841,  842,  348. 
Convicts,  853. 
Coolidge,  Caleb,  162, 177,  193,  210,  228. 

Joseph,  160,  175,  179,  191,  208, 

227,  232,  246,  261,  279,  298,  329. 
Samuel  F.,  333. 
William,  333. 
Cooper,  Samuel,  2,  21,  68. 

William,  1,8,  9,  22,  26,  28,  29,  34, 
35,  36,  47,  49,  59,  71,  75,  79,  91,  92, 
94,  96,  107.  110,  117,  118,  130,  132, 
140,  1.52,  155,  160,  168,  170,  17.5, 
187,  189,  190,  204,  207,  211,  220, 
221,  226,  230,  235,  236,  245,  246,  250, 
254,  255,  268,  269,  270,  274. 
Copeland,  Elisha,  121. 

Nathaniel,  12. 
Copp's  Hill,  purchase  of  land  on,  274. 

removal  of  Gun  House  from, 
278. 
Coroners,  807. 

Corporations,  Aqueduct,  2,  3,  4,  41,  45,  .52. 
Aqueduct,    give    bond, 

45. 
Aqueduct,  restrictions  on, 

55. 
Boston  Bridge,  201. 
Boston  Mill,  217,  218. 


364 


City  Document  No.  115. 


Corporations,  Boston  Mill,  contract  with 
proprietors  of,  223,  224. 
erection  of  mills  by,  349. 
to  Iniild  mill  dam,  340,  345, 
347,  .348. 
Correspondence,  Committee  of,  222. 
Cotting,  Uriah,  13. 
Cotton,  .John,  324. 
Uriah,  140. 
Council,  the,  53,  56. 
County,  Norfolk,  54,  136, 153. 

Suffolk.    (See  Suffolk.) 
Court,  Municipal,  88,  98,  120,  162, 176,  192, 
353. 
Advocate    of,    appro- 
priation for  1806, 202. 
Judge  of,    appropria- 
tion for  1806,  202. 
Judge   of,   compensa- 
tion   to,  87,  88,    216, 
217,  219,  220,  234,  235, 
274,  295,  315,  337. 
of  Common  Pleas,  5,  23n,  297. 
.  General,  6,  21,  27,  34,  35,  40,  ,50,  52, 
55,  56,  58,  69,  73,  78,  88,   89,  103, 
109,  123,  127,  128,  135.  136,  137, 146, 
166,  171,  181,   182,   189,   197,    205, 
211,  213,  232,  239,  250,  267,  277,  293, 
327,  336,  352. 
House,  erection  of,  308. 

new,  land  for,  255. 

school  near,  314. 
passage  to,  315. 
of  Sessions,  5,  9,  17,  32,  74,  110,  119, 
228,   255,   298,  327,  332,  338,    339, 
352. 
Superior  Judicial,  5,  297. 
Supreme  Judicial,  54,  95. 
Crafts,  Thomas,  2,  4,  6,  8, 12, 13,  14, 15. 
Crocker,  Allen,  15. 
Joseph,  9. 
Cromston,  Henry,  27. 
Crosby,  William,  101. 
Cruft  (Crufts),  Edward,  227,  246,  261,  280, 

298  329. 
Cullers  of  fish.    (See  Fish.) 

of  staves.    (.See  Staves.) 
Cumberland,  district,  172, 173. 
Cunningham,  Andrew,   9,  60,  80,  98,  118, 
141,  176,  191,  208,  227,  246, 
261,  280,  298,  329. 
WilUam,  161. 
Curtis,  Charles,  276,  27S. 
Mr.,  271. 
Nathaniel,  165,  230,  246,  261,  266, 

280,  285,  298,  312,  329,  335. 
Theophilus,  295,  315,  331. 
Thomas,  176,  191,  208,  227,  246,  261, 
280. 
Cushing,  John,  13. 

Jonathan,  11,  33,  36,  63,  H,  100, 
120, 143,  162,  177,   193,   210,  228, 
248. 
Theophilus,  20,  86,  87. 
Custom  House,  244,  310. 
Cutter,  Daniel,  228,  248. 
Henry,  301. 

Dall,  William,  178. 
Dalton,  Peter  R.,  68. 
Dam,  from  Boston  to  South  Boston,  348. 
failure  of,  .349. 
road  over,  349. 
Damages  from  agreement  with  Dam  Cor- 

poration,  349. 
Dane,  Nathan,  328. 

Danforth,  Thomas,  170, 197,  214,  232,  266. 
Darracott   (Darracut,    Darricot,    Darri- 

cott),  William,  11,31,  62,64,82,  83,99, 

100,  120,  142,  143, 1H2,  177,  192,  193. 
Davenport,  Rufiis,  30. 
Davis,  Amasa,  8,  1.5,  .SO,  .52,  53,  60,  80,  97, 

116,117,118,119,137,  140,  141,  161,  176, 

191,208,214,227. 


Davis,  Charles,  191,  197,  209,  214,  228,  232 
247,  252,  261,  266,  280,  285,  299 
311,324,330,  3.34,350. 
Isaac  P.,  12,  33,  62,  83,  99,  121, 148, 
206,  232,  266,  285,  292,  293,  298, 312, 
340,  345,  347. 
John,  76,  172,  216,  218,  225,  228,  247, 

262, 268. 
Joshua,  128, 148, 167,  176, 183,  191, 
198,  208,  227,  233,  246,  252,  261,280, 
293,  298,  310,  324,  347. 
Judge,  215,  257. 
J.  P.,  251,310. 
Thomas,  39,  111. 
Dawes,  Thomas,  2,  3,  7,  9, 13,  19,  20,  22,  27, 
29,  31,  34,  35,  36,  37,  38,  39,  40,  49,  51,  52, 
59,  60,  67,  68,  70,  75,  76,  77,  78,  79,  81,  86, 
87,  89,  93,  94,  96,  97,  100,  101,  104,  105, 
107,  110,  111,  113,  119,  121,  127,  128,  130, 
132,  133,  141,  143,  148,  149,  150,  152,  153, 
154,  155,  158,  159,  161,  163,  164,  167,  168, 

169,  176,  178,  179,  181,  183,  186,  188,  189, 
191,  193,  198,  203,  208.  210,  214,  216,  217, 
220,235,254,274,276,  295,  315,  316,  320, 
325,  326,  337,  347,  350,  351. 

Deane,  Josiah,  172. 

Debit  and  credit  of  the  town,  25,  46,  70, 
91.  92,  106, 128,  129, 130, 149, 150, 168, 186, 
198,  218,  219,  234,  273,  287,  306, 327. 

Declaration  of  Independence,  anniver- 
sary of,  1,  28,  50,  75,  94,  110,  133,  155, 

170,  190,  204,  221,  2.36,  255,  296, 320,  321, 
345. 

Deeds  of  land,  15,  206,  215,  280. 

lor  ropewalk,  153. 
register  of,  choice  of,  96, 192. 
Deer,  informer  of,  choice  of,  11,  63. 
Deer  Island,  rent,  200. 

salt  works  on,  136. 
Deluce,  John,  215,  228,  248,  263,  281,  295, 

300,  315. 
Demming,  John,  9, 
Dennie,  Thomas,  14,  88,  89, 98, 118, 141, 161, 

176,  191,  208,  227,  232,  246,  252, 261,  266. 
Dexter,  Aaron,  9,  22,  31,  51,  61,  81,  97,  119, 
141,  161,  176,  191,   208,  227,  247, 
261,  280,  299,  330. 
Samuel,  240,  284,  301,  316,  325,  327, 
328,  333. 
Diseases,    contagious,    act    to    prevent 

spread  of,  34,  36,  56. 
Districts,  Barnstable,  172. 

Berkshire,  172, 173. 
Bristol,  172. 
Cumberland,  172, 173. 
Essex,  171,172. 
Hampshire,  172. 
Kennebeck,  172, 173. 
Lincoln,  172,  173. 
Maine,  171. 
Massachusetts,  171. 
Middlesex,  172. 
Norfolk,  172,  173. 
Plymouth,  172. 
Slilfolk,  135, 171,  172,  205,  239. 
Worcester,  172, 173. 
York,  172,  173. 
Doane,  Isaiah,  116, 137,  140. 
Doble,  Joseph,  12,  33,  63,  84,  177, 193,  210, 

228,  248. 
Dock,  Ivers,  to  cleanse,  56. 
Olivers,  to  cleanse,  56. 
Olivers,  to  fill  up,  56,  64. 
post  on,  13. 
square,  338,  339. 

dealers  in,. 338. 
town,  13,  .34,  37,  51,  71,  128, 131. 

to  cleanse,  .56. 
Yard,  to  establish,  84,  85. 
Doggett,  Neheminh,  149. 

Noah,  16-2,  177,  193,  210,  228,  247, 
2fi2,  281,299,330. 
Donalilson  (Donnison),  Gen.,  14,  64,  140. 
Judge,  .308. 


Index. 


365 


Donaldson  (Donnison),  William,  67,307. 
Dorchester,  138,  148. 

annexed  to  Boston,  157. 

conditions    of    annexation, 
158. 
Dorr,  Samuel,  344,  346,  351. 
Dow,  Samuel,  10. 
Drain,  Kilby  street,  164. 
Duairan,  John,  20,  22,  40,  68. 
Dunn,  Samuel,  125, 126,  285,  312,  335. 
Dutton,  Warren,  189,  190,  252,  266,  325. 
Dyke,  on  Neck,  267. 

Eason,  James,  iOO. 
Eaton,  David  S.,  301. 
Joseph,  22. 
Rev.,  207,  329. 
Eayres,  Moses,  299,  330. 
Eckley,  Joseph,  81,  95,  97, 119, 141, 161, 164, 
176,  190,  191,  208,  226,  227,  229,  230,247, 
264. 
Edes,  Edward,  8,  12,  14,  29,  30,  33,  59,  60, 
62,  79,  SO,  83,  97,  98,  99, 117, 118, 120,  126, 
141,  142. 
Edicts,  317. 

Education,  new  system  of,  9, 10, 31,  61,  81, 
97,  119,  142,  161,  176,  192,  209,  228,  247, 
261,  280,  830. 
Edwards,  Richard,  211. 

Thomas,  8,  20,  21,29,  39,  51,  52, 
60,   64,  104,  138,   151,   173,   175, 
178,  180. 
Electors  of  President  and  Vice-President, 

choice  of,  6,  7,  23, 171, 172, 173,  328. 
Eliot  (Elliot),  344. 

Ephraim,  279,  292,  293,  298, 

310,329,351. 
Rev.   Dr.,  21,  89,  160,  180, 

213,251,311. 
Simon,   76,  78,   80,   87,  98, 
118,  141,  161,  176,  183,191, 
197,  208,  214,  227,  246,  252, 
261,  266. 
Ellis,  Jonathan,  135. 

Joshua,  312,  333. 
Ellison,  .James,  228. 

William,  31,  64,  82,  100,  120,  143, 
162,   177,  193,  210,  228,  247,  248, 
262,   281,  299,  330. 
Embargo,  237,  241,  242,  244,  245. 
Emmerson,  William,  85,  97,  103,  119,  132, 
133,141.161,  176,  191,  W.^,  209,  228,  247, 
261,  278,  280,  286. 
Emmes,  Samuel,  120. 
Emmons,   Samuel,  142,  162,  177,  192,  209, 

229,248,  263,  281,300,331. 
Engine,  hay,  106,  107,  129. 

house,  repairs,  202,  219,  234. 
men,  exempt  from  jury,  236,297. 
England,  threatened  war  with,  317 
Essex,  171,  172. 
Eunson,  James,  85,  120,  143,  162,  177,  193, 

210,228,  248,262,281,299. 
Eustis,  Jacob,  140. 

William,  13, 16,  20,  21,  24,  34,  35,  36, 
39,  40,  41,  51,  bn,  64,  68,  69,  87,  89, 
95,  135,  169,  173,  205,  211,  212,  222, 
231,233,239,240,333. 
Everett,  David,  278. 
Oliver,  95. 
Expense  of  supporting   people  in    jail, 

353. 
Expenses  of  town  for  current  year,  25, 
46,  71,  92,  255,  274. 

Faneuil  Hall,  1,  2,  6,  7, 19,  21,  27, 28,  38,  39, 
49,  50,  58,  67,  69,  75,  76,  78, 
79,86,87,88,93,94,96,101, 
103,  110,  111,  116,  117,124, 
125,  126,  127,  132,  133,  134, 
135,136,  137,  138,  139,140, 
145,146,  147,  155,  156,158, 
159,  160,  164,  165,  166,  167, 
170,  171,  173,  175,  180,  181, 


Faneuil  Hall,  182,   183,  188,  189,  190,  195, 
196,  198,  203,  204,  205,  207, 
210,  213,  214.  221,  222,  225, 
226,  230,  232,  233,  236,  237, 
239,  245,  249,  251,  252,  255, 
2.56,  257,  260,  264,  265,  266, 
275,  276,  278,  279,  283,  284, 
285,  286,  296,  297,  300,  311, 
312,  315,  320,  326,  327,  329, 
332,  334,  335,  340,  341,  344, 
345,  347. 
bell  in  cupola,  43. 
enlarging  of,  184,  185,  202, 
271. 
expenses  of, 
219,  336. 
Market.    (See  Market.) 
portrait     of    Washington 

to  be  hung  in,  194,355. 
resources  from,  271. 
Farley,  John,  173. 
Faxon,  Richard,  285,  312,  335,  341. 
Fellows,  Nathaniel,  9,  30,  60,  70,  80,  97. 
103,  104,  105,  112, 119,  123,  124,  126,  127, 
131,138,  140,  146,147. 
Fence  viewers,  choice  of,  12,  33,  62,  83,  99, 
120, 142,  162, 177,  192,  209,  228,  248,  262, 
281,  299,  330. 
Fenno,  William,  36,  63. 
Ferries,  Winnisimmet,  85. 
Pessenrten,  Benjamin,  117. 
Fillebrown,  Thomas,  173. 
Fines,  74,  84, 129, 149. 
Firemen,  premiums  to,  25,  46. 
Fires,  15,  112,  113, 116,  137. 
Firewards,  14,    80,  119,  138,  194,  205,  208, 
216,  261. 
choice  of,  8,  9,  15,  30,  60,  80, 
97,  118,   123,    141,   161,    176, 
183,    191,   208,  214,  227,  230, 
246,  266,   280,  298,  329. 
exempt  from  jury,  236. 
resignation  of,  266. 
request  compensation,  178. 
salary  of,  179. 
Fish,  cullers  of,  choice  of,  12,  33,  63,  84, 
100,120,  143,  162,  177,193,210,228, 
248,  262,  281,  299,  330. 
stalls  in  Market  square  to  be  shut 

up,  26. 
street,  132. 
Flood  gates,  224. 
Folsom,  John  W.,  140.^ 

T.  W.,  106. 
Fort  Hill,  41,  45,  72,  73. 

circular  walk  on,  185. 
gun-house  on,  erection  of,  276. 
land  on,  for    use  of   artillery 

company,  278. 
proceeds  of  sale  of  land  on, 

219. 
reservoir  on,  41,  45. 
Foster,  Hopestill,  106. 

Joseph,  229,  246,  260,  279,  297,  310, 

328,  329,  344,  346. 
Thomas,  11,36,63. 
Fowle,  Henry,  214,  227. 
Pox,  John,  117. 
France,  alliance  with,  319. 
commerce  of,  242. 
decrees  of,  317. 
views  of,  317. 
Francis,  Silas,  229,  248,  263,  282. 
Franklin  street,  15. 
Frazer,  Nathan.  69,  89. 
Freeman,  Rev.  Mr.,  102, 166. 
French  Revolution,  321. 
Abraham,  24,  26. 
John,  31,  64. 
Front  street,  178. 
Fuller,  Asa,  13, 15. 

Funerals,  at  Granary  and  chapel,  discon. 

tinuance  of,  277. 

use  of  hearses  at,  17. 


366 


City  Document  No.  115. 


Gardiner,  J.  S.  J.,  310,  328. 
Gardner,  Jeremiah,  3('7. 
John,  2)1,230. 
Lemuel,    85,  100,   120,    143,    162, 

177, 193,  210,  228,  247. 
Jiev.  Mr.,  135. 

Robert,  9,  30,  60,  80,  97, 116,  118, 
137,  140,  141,  161,  167,  176,179, 
284. 
Rt.,  117. 
Gates  for  dam,  348. 
General  Court.    (See  Court.) 
Gerry,  Elbridge,  19,  20,  68,  86, 102, 124, 145, 
172,  180,  196,  211,  231,  250,  251,  264,  283, 
301. 
Geyer,  Thomas,  30. 
Gill,  Moses,  19,  20,  38,  68,  86. 
Gleason,  Joseph,  14. 
Glover,  Nathaniel,  247,  262,  281,  299,  330. 
Goal,  physician  to,  307. 
Goddard,  Benjamin^llS,  141, 160, 175, 191, 
197,  208,  214,  227,  232,  246. 
Thacher,  285,  312,  334. 
Gooch,  William,  106,  129, 149. 
Goodhue,  Benjamin,  171. 
Goodwin,  David,  278. 

Ozias.  160, 161,  175, 176, 191,  208, 
227;  246,  261,  279,  298,  324,  329, 
351. 
Goolsburough,  171. 
Gore,  Christopher,  180,  196,  312,  222,  231, 

232,  237,*250,  251,  264,  283,  325. 
Gorham,  Benjamin,  325. 

Stephen,  8,  22,  29,  40,  51,  59,  98, 
118, 141,  161,  212. 
Governor   and    Lieut.-Governor,  choice 
of,  19,  20,  23,  38,  68, 102,124, 14.5, 164,180, 
196,  211,  231,  250,  264,  283,  301,  333. 
Grant  to  Mill  Dam  Corporation,  348. 

William,  152. 
Grants  and  allowances.    (See  Salaries.) 
Graves,  removal  of  bodies  from,  276. 

in  Granary  burying-ground,  257. 
Gray,  Edward,  9,  31,  61, 81, 97, 117, 119, 141, 
161,  176,  183,  340. 
John,  106,  130,  150,  201,  287. 
Afr.,  194. 

William,  264,  283,  301,  327,  328,  333. 
Great  Britain,  316,  318, 319. 

commerce  of,  241. 
Green  (Greene),  David,  21,  23,  31,61,68, 
81,  97,  119, 141,  161, 176, 
191,  208,  228,  247,  261, 
280,  299,  326. 
William,  193, 210, 228, 247, 
262, 281,  299,  330. 
Greenough,  David,  351. 
Gridley,  Samuel,  27,  31,  64,  82,  99. 
Gun-house,  53,  72,  73, 76. 

permit  to  erect,  276. 
removal  of,  278. 

Hall,  James,  13. 

Joseph,  69,  89,  94, 183. 
Hallowell,  172,  173. 
Hamlin,  George,  12,  33,  62,  83. 
Hammatt    (H  a  m  m  e  t,    H  a  m  m  e  1 11 , 
Benjamin,  61,  67,  81,99. 
William,    216,    232,     233,    2.52, 
257,  266,  268,  285,  295,  312,  334, 
347,  350. 
William  J.,  330. 
Hammond,  Mary,  201. 
Hampshire  district,  172. 
Hancock,  Ebenezer,  23,  29,  52,  59,  79,  96, 
134,  135. 
John,  13,  205,  215,  263,  268. 
Thomas,  215. 
Harrington,  Ruf us,  228,  248,  263,  281,300, 

331 
Harris,  Edward,  333. 

Gyles,  10,  32,  61. 

Jonathan,  15,  29,  60,  206,  233,  251, 
301. 


Harris,  William,  312,  335. 

Hart,  Edmund,  84,  85. 

Hartshorne,  O.,  121, 129. 

Haskell,  Jiev.  Mr.,  124. 

Hastings,  Samuel,  106. 

Hatch,  Jabez,  8,  30,  60,  80. 

Hathorn,  Col.  John,  172. 

Haverhill,  172. 

Ha  ward.  Rev.  Dr.,  6, 140. 

Hay  engine,  106, 107, 129. 

market,  income  from,  200. 
weigher,  1.52. 

Hayes  (Hays;,  Judah,  183, 194. 

Michael  Moses,  39. 

Hay  ward,  Lemuel,  284. 

Haywards,  choice  of,  12,  33,  62,  83,  85,  99, 
120,  142,  162,  177,  192,  209,  215,  217,  228, 
230,  248,  263,  281,  295,  300,  315,  331. 

Head,  Joseph,  22,  30,  60,  80,  97,  118,  141, 
161,  176,  191,  208,  227,  232,  246,  252,  261, 

280,  298,  325. 
Healey,  Mr.,  71. 

Heard,  John,  191,  209,  228,  247,  261,  280,  • 

284,  299,  330. 
Hearsey,  Thomas,  248,  262. 
Heath,  William,  20,  38,  51,  68,  86, 102, 124, 

165,  173,  180,  196,  283,  301. 
Hemp,  surveyors  of,  choice  of,  11,  33,  62, 

83,  99,  120,   143,  162,  177,  192,  209,  229, 

248,  263,  281,  300,  331. 
Henderson,  Benjamin,  11,  25,  35,  46,  62, 

70,  82,  92,  99,  106,  128,  129,  150, 152. 
Hewes  (Hews),  Richard,  117. 
Samuel,  140. 

Shubael,  10,  31,  63,  82,  99. 
Hichborn  (Hichbourne),  Philip,  11,  36,  63. 

Samuel,  340. 
Hicks,  Zachariah,  340. 
Higginson,  Stephen,  7,  22,  39,  40,  181,  212, 

232,  251. 
Highways,  surveyors  of,  choice  of,  12,  83, 

63,  84,  100, 120,  143, 163, 177,  193,  210,  229, 

248,  263,  282,  300,  331. 
Hill,  Henry,  8,  14,  16,  17, 18,  21,  29,  59,  79, 

98,  118,  141,  160,  175,  191,  208,  227,  246, 

261,  279. 
Hitchborn,  Thomas,  10,  61. 
Hoar,  Samuel,  328. 
Hodgdon,  Benjamin,  30. 
Hogreeves,  choice  of,  12,  33,  62,  83,  85,  99, 

120,  142,  162,  177,  209,  215,  228,  230,  248, 

281,  295,  300,  315,  331. 
Holbrook,  Jirah,  10,  14,  31,  82,99,  121. 

Jonah,  63. 
Holland,  .Jacob,  125. 
Holley  (Holly),  Horace,  249,  326,  327,  330, 

334. 
HoUis,  David,  12,  32,  62,  83. 
Homans,  Benjamin,  10,  279,  284,  302,  310. 
Homer,  Bleazer,  195,  210,228,  247,  262,  281, 
299  330 
Michael, '253,  263,  282,  300,  331. 
Homes,  Barzillia,  312. 
Hospital  of  almshouse,  number  of  peo- 
ple in,  353. 
on  almshouse  estate,  314. 
bequest  toward  building,  163. 
House  of  Correction,  cost    of  building, 
114,  3.54. 
court  of  sessions, 
provide  for,  352. 
petition  to  estab- 
lish, 351. 
use  of,  as  jail,  353. 
R'epresentatives.    (See   Repre- 
sentatives.) 
Hovey,  Amos,  68. 
How  (Howe),  Edward,  106,  108. 

John,  247,  262,  281,  299,  330. 
Nathaniel,  228,  248,  262,  281, 
299,  330. 
Howard,  John  C,  30. 

John  D.,  176,   191,   208,   214,   285, 
312,335,  340. 


Index. 


367 


Howard,  Joseph,  ]5,  29,  30,  33,  41,  59,  60, 
79,  80,  91,  96,  97,  117,  118,  141, 
161. 
Hubbard  (Hubbart),  Tuthill,  201,  287. 
Hudson,  Hezekiah,  228,  248,  262,  281. 
Hunneman,  William  Cooper,  83,  100,  120, 

142,  162,  177,  192,  209,  229. 
Hunnewell,  Jonathan,  96,  103,117, 118,123, 
126,  127,  141,  143,  147,  160,  161,  166, 175, 
176,  181,  182,  191,  197.  207,208,213,227, 
232,  246,  251,  252,  260,  261,  266,  279,  280, 
284,  285,  297,  298,  311,  326,  328,  329,  333, 
334,  345. 
Hunt,  Augustus,  13,  212. 

Samuel,  24,  27,  178,   179,  18i,  187, 
188,  202. 
Huntington,  Bev.,  239. 
Hurd,  John,  37,  59,  81,  99. 
Hutchinson,  Edward,  86. 

street,  to  widen,  3. 
Hutson,  Hezeisiah,  11,  36,  63. 

Idle  and  disorderly  persons,  act  to  pun- 
ish, 3.i2. 
Inches,  Henderson,  52,  212. 
Independence   Day,   celebration  of   the 
anniversary,  1,  28,  50,  75,  94,  110,  133, 
155,  170,  190,  204,  221,  236,  255,  275,  296, 
320,  345. 
Indictment  against  town,  282. 
Informer  of  deer.    (See  Deer.) 
Ingersol,  Daniel,   33,    62,    77,  82,  83,  99, 
100,120,  142,  143,  162,  177,  192,193,209, 
210. 
Ingraham,  Joseph,  73,  82. 
Inhabitants,  1,  2,  5,  6,  7,  8, 10, 15, 16, 17,  19, 
20,  22,  23,  26,  27,  28,  29,  30, 
32,  34,  36,  37,  38,  39,  40,  41, 
42,  44,  47,  49,  TiO,  52,  .54,  55, 
56,  57,  58,  59,  60,  61,  65,  67, 
69,  70,  71,  73,  75,  76,  77,  78, 
79,  80,  85,  86,  87,  88,  89,  91, 
92,  93,  94,  96,  97,  98,  101,  103, 
104,  107,  109,   110,   111,   113, 
115,  116,  117,   118,   122,   124, 
126,  127,  130,   132,   133,   134, 
135,  136,  137,   138,   139,   140, 
141,  145,  146,  147,   149,   152, 
155,  1,56,  157,   158,   1.59,   160, 
161,  164,  165,    166.   167,  168, 
170,  171,  173,   174,   175,  176, 
179,  180,  181,   182,   183,  184, 
185,  187,  188,   189,  190,   191, 
195,  196,  197,   198,  203,  204, 
205,  207,  210,   213,  214,  216, 
220,  221,  222,   223,  225,  226, 
230,  232,  233,   236,   237,  238, 
239,  240,  245,  249,  251,   255, 
256,  258,  259,  260,  264,  265, 
266,  269,  275,   276,  277,  278, 
279,  283,  284,  285,  296,  297, 
300,  302,  321,  323,  327,  328, 
332,  334,  335,   336,   340,  345, 
347,  350. 
arming  of,  324. 
tax  on,  274. 
Injunction  on  Town  Treasurer,  309. 
Inmates  of  almshouse,  number  of,  353. 
Inoculation,  133. 
Islands,  Noddles,  85. 
Ivers  dock,  to  cleanse,  56. 
James,  215. 

Jackson,  Charles,  232,  251,  252,  284,  312 
316,  325. 
Henry,  9,  30,  60,  80,  84,  85,  97, 118, 

141,  161, 176,  191,  208,  227. 
James,  284. 
.Jonathan,  151. 
Jail,  115,  353. 

people  in,  353. 
James,  Francis,   229,   248,    263,    282,  300, 

331. 
Jaquish,  Aaron,  24,  26. 


Jarvis,  Charles,  13,  20,  22,  39,  68,  70,  76,  87, 
102,  103,  105,  127,  146,  153, 167,  169, 
222. 
Peter,  151. 
William,  233,  239. 
Jennings,  William,  14. 
Jepson,  Benjamin,  11,  25,  35,  46,  62,  70,  82, 

92,  99, 106,  128, 129,  150,  152. 
Jones,  Edward,  12,  33,  62. 

John  Coffin,  14,  18,  20,  39,  51,  68,  78, 

83,  84,  85,  87,  102, 103,  111,  117, 127, 

138,  145,  148,  171,  211,  222,  2.31,  240, 

251,  278,  284,  316,  320,  324,  325,  333. 

Joseph,  284. 

Thomas  Kilby,  197,  212,  214,  284. 
Joy,  Benjamin,  30,  60,  80,  97, 118, 141,  161. 
John,  218,  257, 268. 
Thomas,  327. 
Jurors,  act  regulating  choice  of,  5,  335. 
choice  of,  5,  297. 
grand,  236,  297,  338. 
law  relative  to,  235,  335, 
petit,  5,  236,  297. 
traverse,  236,  297. 
Jury  boxes,  76,  140. 

to  regulate,  205. 
engine  men  exempt  from,  297. 
Justices  of  Court  of  Sessions,  application 
to,  2.55,  327. 
of  the  peace,  116,  211,  230,  307,  338, 

344. 
use  of  jail  by,  353. 

Keating,  Oliver,  252,  266,  285,  295,  312,  334. 

Kempton,  William,  84. 

Kennebeck  district,  172,  173. 

Kennedy,  John,  10. 

Kent,  Seth,  310. 

Kettel  (Kettle),  Joseph,  117, 194,  207,  227, 

2'29 
Kilby  street,  159,  163. 
Kine  pox,  133. 
King,  Gidney,  298,  329,  340. 

William,  301,  333. 
Kingston,  172. 
Kirkland,  John  T.,  23,  31,  61,  81,  97,  119, 

141,  161,  176,  191,  196,  208,  227,  247,  261, 

280. 
Kitteredge,  Thomas,  172. 
Knapp,  Joseph,  148. 

Josiah,  71,  105,  128,  138,  140,  153, 
167,  178,  183,  252,  266,285,  312. 
Knox,  Henry,  180,  196. 
Kuhn,  John,  84,  333. 

Lamps,  14,  52,  53,  56,  130. 

appropriation  for,  25,  46,  202,  219, 

234. 
to  be  lighted,  56, 
Lancaster,  173. 

Land,   claim    to,    on   which    almshouse 
stands,  219, 
for  new  school-house,  to  purchase, 

144. 
town's,  west  of   almshouse,    for 

House  of  Correction,  301. 
Fort  Hill,  proceeds  of,  219. 

use  of  for  Artillery  Co., 
278. 
lease,    near   John    Odin's    ware- 
house, 326. 
Old  State  House,  selling  of,  54,  78. 
owners.  Fuller,  Asa,  16. 
purchase  of  on  Copp's  Hill,  274. 
near   North    Burying 
Ground,  257,  260. 
taken  by  town,  5. 
town,  release  on  Kilby  street,  163. 
relinquish  all  claim  to  Mill 
Pond,  217. 
town's  application    to  lay  pipes 
through,  2,  4. 
on   Beach  street,  to  sell, 
7L 


368 


City  Document  No.  115. 


Land,  town's  exchange  of,  3,  72, 121,  206. 
on  Fort  Hill,  72,  73. 

lease  of,  41, 

45. 
to  sell,  185. 
given  for  new  street,  178. 
gun-house,  to  erect  on,  53. 
moneys  for  sale  of,  3. 
on  the  Neck,  13,  16,  44,  71, 
84,  101,  104, 
105,  108,128, 
134,147,167, 
183,  206,214, 
216,  233,252, 
267, 287,289, 
294,  347. 
candle  man- 
u  f  a  c  tory 
on,  16. 
grant  of,  267. 
conditions  of 
sale  of,  184, 
185,  289. 
slaughter- 
house   on, 
16. 
trustees  for, 
choice    of, 
105,  167,183, 
198,214,252, 
287,  294,347. 
trustees      to 
manage, 
105,  108,134, 
148,  167,183. 
on  Orange  street,  disposal 

of,  165. 
for  reservoir,  lease  of,  41. 
for  ropewalks,  153,  194. 
sale  of,  on    which  alms- 
house stands,  65. 
to  sell,  90,  121,  289. 
value  of,  on  Heacon  Hill, 
286. 
opposite     mall, 

286. 
at  South  bridge, 
286,  307. 
wharf  on,  to  build,  139. 

not  to  build,  149. 
Lane,  Henrv,  121. 
Late,  William,  84. 
Lathrop,  Rev.  Dr.,  175,  240,  260,  300. 
Law  for  erecting  workhouse,  351,  352. 
Laws  against  foreigners,  116. 

vagrants,  to  be    executed, 
115. 
assize  on  bread,  17, 19. 
embargo,  241,  244,245. 
new  edition  of,  109,  110. 
to  be  read  at  town  meeting,  7,  21,  29, 
58,  79,  96,  117,  140,  160,  175,  190,  207, 
226,  246,  297,  329. 
prohibiting  sale  of  oysters,  37. 
on  redistricting  Commonwealth,  264. 
regulating  buildings,  138,  139, 195. 
relating  to  town  ollicers,  329. 
relative  to  health,  37,  58. 
jurors,  235,  335. 
mourning,  69,  89, 103. 
wood,  34,  63,  143,  144. 
to  enforce  embargo,  242,  245. 
regulate  paving  of  streets,  74. 
secure  town  against  fires,  15. 

to   re- 
peal,27. 
Leather,  sealers  of,  choice  of,  12, 32, 62, 83. 
Lee,  George  C,  252,  266. 

George  G.,  285,  312,  335. 
Legionary  Brigade,  189. 
Legislature,  84,  88,  115.  117,  128,  138,  158, 
189,  267,  277,  316,  343,  352. 
petition  to,  241,  242,  243,  290, 
340. 


Legislature,  resolves  of,  relative  to  dis- 
posing of  Old  State  House, 
54. 
Leonard,  George,  172. 
Leopard,  222. 

Letter  from  Bray,  Major,  194. 
from  Clap,  Samuel,  134. 
from  Jane  Stuart,  355. 
Committee    of    Correspondence, 

222. 
from  Fellows,  Nathaniel,  104, 105. 
from  Howard,  Joseph,  34. 
from  Parkman,  Samuel,  194. 
from  school  committee,  188. 
from  Sever,  Ebenezer,  34. 
from  Sturgis,  Russell,  34,  104, 105. 
from  Tilden,  David,  104, 105,  229. 
Leverett,  John,  249,  287. 
Lewis,  Amos,   10,  31,  39,  63,   82,  99,  121, 
333. 
Thomas,  68,  116,  137,  140,  211,  212, 
239,  299. 
Lilley,  John  S.,  39. 
Lime,  inspectors  of,  choice  of,  263,  282, 300, 

331. 
Lincoln,  172. 

districl,  172,  173. 
Gen.,  245. 

Levi,  211,  231,  250,  283. 
Mitchell,  116,  117, 137, 140. 
List  of  jurors,  5,  140,  235,  236. 
Little,  William,  8,  9,  20,  21,  29,  30,  40,  60, 

283,  301,  333. 
Livermore,  Ed.  St.  Loe,  316,  325,  345. 

Samuel,  327. 
Llovd,  James,  182,  197,  212,  214,  231,  333, 

334. 
Logwood,  115. 
London,  77. 
Lord,  John,  172. 

Samuel,  140. 
Lord's  Day,  10,  32,  61,  81,  98, 156. 
Loring,  Braddock,  177,  193,  210,  228,  247, 
262,  281,  299, 330. 
Brodick,  162. 
C,  126. 
James,  344. 

Jonathan,  102,  285,  312,  335. 
Joseph,  11,  36,  63. 
Matthew,  12,  32,  62. 
"  Nathaniel,  83. 
Lothrop,  John,  1. 

Rev.  Dr.,l,m,in. 
Lovering,  Joseph,  297,  298,  328,  329. 
Lovet,  .James,  3. 
Lovis,  William,  299. 
Low,  William,  31,  64,  70. 
Lowell,  Charles,  204,  283,  286,  299,  330. 

John,  14,  18,  40,  69,  72, 73,  75, 76,  89, 
94,  127,  147,  251,  292,  293,  298,  307, 
310  331 
Lyman,  Theodore,  240,  325. 

Mackay  (Mackey),  Mungo,  9,  14,  129. 

William,  138,  160,   175,   191,    208, 
227,  246,  261,   279,  298,  329,  342, 
343. 
Magistrates,  115,  323. 
Magner  (Magnor),  John,  20,  40,  68. 
Maine  district,  171. 
Market,  cellar  nnder,  72. 
clerk  of,  42,  43. 

choice  of,  13,  30,  36, 
salary  of,  25,  46. 
forestalling  of,  332,  338. 
hay,  income  from,  200. 
inspectors  of,  338,  340. 
license  to  sell  in,  338. 
regulations  of,  37,  38,  42,  43. 
rent  for  stalls  in,  42,  152,  286. 
stands  in,  to  sell  at  auction,  .35. 
square,  no  more  fish  stalls  in,  26. 
stalls  in,  42,  84. 

rent  for,  200. 


Index. 


369 


Marshall,  Christopher,  99,  106,  128,  129, 
150, 152. 
Josiah,  333,  340,  350. 
Marslon,  James  B.,  340. 
Maryland,  324. 
Mason,  Jonathan,  20,  22,  68,  87,  146, 165, 

182, 197,  212,  213,  222,  237,  240. 
Massachusetts  district,  171. 

embargo    act     enforced, 
240,  241,  242,  243,  244. 
Mattoon,  Eben,  172. 
May,  Enoch,  10,  31,  63,  82,  99. 

John,  9.  13,  16,  30,  60,  80,  97, 118, 138, 
140,  141,  147, 160,  161,  175,  191,   207, 
226,  246,  260,  266,  279,  285,  297,  312, 
326. 
Joseph,  2,  5,  9,  22,  30,  40,  52,  59,  60, 
64,  73,  80,  97,  118, 141, 161,  176,  178, 
191,  208,  227,  246,  261,  280. 
Samuel,  333. 
McCleary,  S.  F.,  355. 
McKean,  Joseph,  252. 
Mead,  Israel,  248,  263,  281,  300,  331. 

Joseph,  9. 
Meeting-houses,  Mr.  Murray's,  174. 
Old  brick,  28. 
Old  South  Church,  1,  50, 
75,  94,  110,  132,  139, 155, 
156,    157,   170,    190,  204, 
221,    236,  296,    345. 
MelTill  (Melville),  Thomas,  8,  24,  30,  60, 
80,  97,  118,  141,  161,  176,  191,  208,  227, 
246,  261,  280,  298,  329. 
Memorial  to  Legislature,  244. 
to  the  President,  238. 
from  William  Smith,  311. 
Memorialists,  241,  242. 
Merchants  row,  202. 

Messenger  (Messinger),   Daniel,  22,  116, 
117,   123,  137,  141,   161,   176. 
191,   208,  227,   246.   252,   261, 
266,  280,  285,   298,  312,  329, 
334,   341. 
Henry,  333. 
Middlecot  street,  90. 
Middlesex  canal,  348. 

district,  172. 
Military  fines,  304. 
Militia,  assembly  of,  324. 
Mill  creek,  224. 

fish  stall  on,  to  erect,  101, 105. 
dam,  petition  to  build,  340. 
improvements,  340. 
pond,  35,  36,  37,  220,  223,  226. 
filling  up,  159, 164, 169,  215,  216, 
217,  224,  271,  286. 
stones,  349. 
Miller,  Charles,  14. 
Mills,  erection  of,  on  dam,  349. 
Minns,  Thomas,  68. 

Minot,  George  R.,  2,  9, 14, 15,  18,  41,  51,  76, 
78,    100,    104,    105,    106,   110,   113, 
149. 
William,  281. 
Mitchell,  /Jew.,  284. 
Mobs,  321,  322,  324. 

Moderator,  choice  of,  1,  2,  6,  7,  22,  27,  28, 
29,  40,  49,  51,  59,  70,  75,  76,  78,  79,  87,  89, 
93,  94,  96, 104,  110,  111,  116,  117,  127,  132, 
133,  134,  136,  137,  138,  139,  140,  147,  153, 
155,  156,  158,  159,  160,  165,  167,  170, 173, 
175,  181, 183,  189,  190,  198,  204,  205,  207, 
214,  221,  222,  225,  226,  233,  236,  237,  240, 
246,  252,  255,  2.56,  259,  260,  266,  270,  276, 
278,  279,  282,  286,  296,  297,  312,  315,  320, 
321,  329,  335,  337,  340,  345,  347. 
Moneys,  10, 11,  32,  33,  42,  45.  62,  65,  81,  90, 
98, 121,  144,  168,  186, 193, 198, 210, 
21«,  218,  249. 
allowed  by  government  for  artil- 
lery, 53. 
borrowed,  66,  72,  93, 108,  111,  112, 

130,  132,  186,  218,  234. 
counterfeit  bills,  106, 151. 


Moneys  for  almshouse,  new,  46,  48,  49, 
65,  130,  149. 
for  Board  of  Health,  72,  93, 108, 

130,  132. 
hospital,  for  building,  163. 
in  Union  Bank,  2. 
paid  Brown,  S.,  106, 149. 
paid  to  Clouston,  Louis,  4. 
paid  Hunt,  Samuel,  188,  202. 
paid  for  interest,  129,  149. 
paid  Seaver,  Ebenezer,  199. 
paid  to  Thwing,  James,  4. 
paid  by  town  treasurer,  149. 
received  to  support  State  poor, 

149. 
to  defray  expense  of  filling  up 
the  dock,  56. 
Morse,  E.,  126. 
Morton,  Ferez,  13,  21,  24,  39. 
Moss,  Uriah,  27. 
Mourning,  mark  of,  for  death  of  George 

Washington,  78. 
Murray,  John,  126,  127, 174. 

National  Government,  317. 
Navy,  Continental,  85. 
secretary  of,  85. 
Neck,  the.     (5ee  Boston  Neck.) 
Negroes,  72,  73. 
Neil,  Thomas,  13. 
Nelson,  Jeremiah,  328. 
New  Castle,  173. 
Newell,  Timothy,  173. 
New  England  Insurance  office,  304. 
Newport,  355. 
New  Salem,  172. 

Newspapers,  advertisements  in,  22,  23,  24, 
43,  44,  52,  53,  56,  57,  65,  216, 
220. 
Centinel,  5. 
Chronicle,  5. 
report  of  selectmen,  printed 

in,  101. 
printing  by-laws  in,  339. 
resolutions  against  embar- 
go printed  in,  245. 
resolutions   on   death  of 
George    Washington, 
printed  in,  78. 
vote  of  thanks  published  in, 
113. 
Nichols,  Perkins,  226,  229. 
Nickerson,  Capt.,  39. 
Night  carts,  2!!-2. 
Noddles  Island,  85. 
Norfolk  County,  54, 136,  153. 
district,  172,  173. 
Virginia,  222,  223. 
Norton,  172. 

Samuel,  1C2. 
Notes,  47,  92,  201,273.  287. 

from  treasurer,  10,  32,  62, 81,  82, 98, 

107. 
payable,  106, 130, 150,  201,  218,  234, 

287,  305. 
receivable,  107, 129, 150,  201,218,234, 

287,  305. 
town  treasurer  to  issue,  121,  124, 
131. 
Noyes,  Joseph,  250. 

Nathaniel,  24,  140,  310. 
William,  284. 

Oakum,  114. 

Oath  of  office,  8,  9,  29,  59,  79,  96,  118,  140, 

160,  175,  190,  207,  226,  230,  246,  260,  279, 

297,  329,  344. 
Odin,  John,  326. 
Oil,  25,  46,  53,  130,  202,  219,  2.34. 
Old  brick  meeting-house,  28. 
Old  South  Church,  1,  50,  76,  94,  110,  132, 

139,  155,  156, 157,  170,  190,  204,  221,  236, 

255,294,321,345. 


370 


City  Document  No.  115. 


Old  State  House,  disposal  of,  34,  51,  54,  78, 
136,  153. 
partition  of,  95. 
rent,  '200,  271,  286. 
to  be  leased,  conditions 

of  lease,  154. 
town's  claim  to,  117. 
Oliver,  Andrew,  22. 

Ebenezer,  44,  45,  79,  87,  91,  96, 117, 
118,  141,  160,  175,  191,  207,  227,  246, 
260,  279,  297,  328.  329,  337. 
Francis  J.,  298,  326,  329,  330. 
Thomas,  13. 
Oliver's  dock,  to  cleanse,  56. 

to  Jill  up,  56,  64. 
Orange  street,  165, 178. 
Oration,  on  anniversary  of  Independence, 
1,  28,  50,  75,  94,  110,  133,  155,  170, 
190,  204,  221,  236,  255,   296,  820, 
345. 
choice  of  orator,  1,  28,  50,  75,  94, 
110,  132,   155,    170,  190,  204,  221, 
236,  255,  296,  321,  345. 
copy  of,  to  be  furnished  the  press, 
1,'2S,  50,  75,111,133,  155,  171,  190, 
204,  221,  236,  255,  296,  321,  345. 
to  be  delivered  at  old  brick  meet- 
ing-house, 28. 
Old     South 
Church,  1,  50, 
75,     94,     110, 
132,    155,    170, 
190,   204,    221. 
236,   255,    294, 
321,  345. 
Orcutt,  Samuel,  333. 
Osborn,  John,  13. 

Otis,  Harrison  Gray,  7,  39,  51,  76,  102, 119, 
127,  147,  148,  158,  165,  166,  180,  196,  211, 
-   212,  222,  231,  250,  265,  276,  277,  283,  301, 
316,  325,  328,  333,  334. 
Overseers  of  the  poor.    {See  Poor.) 
Owen,  Benjamin,  330. 
Oysters,  to  prevent  sale  of,  in  summer, 
35,  36,  37. 

Page,  Benjamin,  11,  30,64,  82,  100, 120, 143. 

Thomas,  233,  280,  298,  329. 
Pain  (Paine),  Aaron,  301. 

Charles,  30,  110, 148,  147. 
Robert  T.,  76. 
William,  206. 
Palmer,  George,  340. 
Parker,  Isaac,  172. 
J.,  250. 

Jedidiah,  93,  99,  135. 
John,  68,  232,  252,  266,  285,  312. 
Rev.  Dr.,  40. 
Parkman,  John,  355. 

Samuel,  8,  30,  40,  51,  60,  69,  80, 
89,   97,    103,  111,  117,  118,  127, 
140, 141,  147, 161,  176,  183,  191, 
194,  197,  208,  213,  259,  325,  355. 
William,  11,  36. 
Parsons,  Gorham,  118, 119, 123. 
Gorman,  80,  98. 
Nehemiah,  292,  293,  298,  310. 
Theophilus,  146, 182. 
AVilliam,  22,  83,  84,  85,  183,  218, 
257,  268,  325. 
Partridge,  Elizabeth,  107, 130, 150,  201,  287. 
Patrole,  voluntary,  choice  of,  116. 
Pearce,  William,  328. 
Pease,  Timothy,  11,  36,  63. 
Penniman,  Asa,  38. 
Perkins,  .344. 

Col.,  240. 

James,  51,237,  316,  325. 
Samuel  L.,  13. 

Thomas,  8,  29,  59.  79,  98, 118, 141, 

160,  197,  208,  213,  227,  246,   261, 

279,  298,  329. 

Thomas  11.,  9,  22,  .30,  60,  80,  97, 

118,  119,  141,  161,  175,  176,  181, 


Perkins,  Thomas  H.,  183,  191,   197,   208, 
212,  213,  222,  227,  240,  243,  246,  251,  261, 
284,  333. 
Peter,  Black,  39. 
Peters,  John,  39. 

Petition  for  auctions,  out-door,  24,  72. 
bridge,  new,  138. 
street,  new,  6,  104, 106. 
a  town  meeting,  isl. 
Old  State  House,  for  partition,  95. 
of  assessors,  178, 179. 
board  of  health,  133. 
Brazer,  John,  135. 
Clouston,  Louis,  4. 
Cooper,  Samuel,  2. 
Davis,  Amasa,  52. 

Isaac  P.,  148,  310,  347. 
Ellis,  Jonathan,  135. 
fisherman,  34,  37,44. 
French,  Abraham,  24,  26. 
Fuller,  Asa,  13, 15. 
Greenough,  David,  351. 
Hill,  Henry,  14,  16, 17. 
Howe,  Edward,  106,  108. 
Hunt,  Samuel,  24,  27, 178,  179, 

184, 187. 
Ivers,  James,  215. 
Jaquish,  Aaron,  24,  26. 
Knapp,  Josiah,-71, 178. 
Kuhn,  John,  84. 
Lovet,  James,  3. 
Nichols,  Perkins,  226,  229. 
number  of  black  persons,  35, 
91. 
inhabitants,  6,27, 
72,  76,    104,    ill, 
137,  144,  276,277, 
332,  351. 
of  South  Bos- 
ton, 174,  295. 
Patten,  Nathaniel,  84. 
Phillips,  William,  163. 
physicians,  133. 
Powell,  William,  51,  56. 
Pratt,  James,  101,  105. 
purchasers    of   land    on  the 

Neck,  183,  184. 
Stutson,  Amasa,  216. 
Sullivan,  John  E.,  90, 
Tate,  .James,  4,  5. 
Tliayer,  Seth,  216. 
Thwing,  James,  4. 
truckmen,  53. 

Tuckerman,  Edward,  139, 148. 
Tudor,  William,      ) 
Otis,  Harrison  G.,  [  165. 
Mason,  Jonathan,  ) 
Wendall,  Judge,  72,  73. 
Wilds,  Major,  72. 
wood  wharfingers,  143,  144. 
to  annex  Dorchester,  157. 
General  Court,  240. 
Legislature,  241,  242,  243. 
President   of   United   States, 
238. 
Phillips,  James,  162,  177, 192,  209,  227,  229, 
248,  261,  263,  280,  281,  298,  300, 

John',  88,  98,  100,  103,  108,  120, 
131,  141,  142,  147,  152,  154,  161, 
162,  165,  167,  169,  173,  176,  181, 
183,  187,  191,  192,  196,  203,  208, 
209,  212,  228,  231,  237,  246,  247, 
250,  257,  260,  261,  263,  264,  265, 
268,  272,  280,  283,  299,  301,  312, 
315,  326,  329,  332,  333,  335,  342. 

Jonathan,  279,  298,  329. 

Mr.,  48. 

Samuel,  20,  39,  68,86,  102. 

William,  8,  29,  59,  80,  98,  118, 
141,  159,  160,  163,  175,  182,  191, 
197,  198,  208,  213,  214,  227,  232, 
233,  246,  252,  261,  266,  279,  283, 
284,  286,  298,  301,  329,  333. 


Index. 


371 


Physician  of  goal,  307. 

Fliysicians,  petition  of,  133. 

Pierce,  Josepli.  312,  335. 

Pleasant  street,  53,  121. 

Plymouth  district,  172. 
street,  91. 

Police,  43,  72,112,  273. 

appropriation  for  1S06,  202. 
1807,  219. 

Pollard,  Benjamin,  320. 

Pond  street,  90,  229. 

Pook,  Charles,  228,  248,  262,  3S1,  299,  330. 

Poor,  overseers  of  the,  33,  48,  64, 101, 113, 
115,  161,  168, 189. 
accounts  of,  to 
audit,  11,32,  63, 
83,  100,  121,  143, 
150,163,178,193, 
198, 210, 218,  234, 
248, 253,  263,  282, 
300,312,331. 
appropriation  for 

1804,  168. 

1805,  186. 

1806,  202. 

1807,  219. 

1808,  235. 

1810,  274. 

1811,  294. 

1812,  313. 

1813,  336. 
choice  of,  8,  29, 

59,  79,   98,    104, 
118,141,160,175, 
191,208  227,246, 
279,  329. 
drafts  of,  25,  47, 
91,  106,  128, 130, 
149,151,186,218, 
219,270,305,312, 
336. 
exempt  from 
jury,  236. 
Popkins,  John,  125. 

Porter,  William,  44,  59,  79,  91,  96,  117, 118, 
141,  160,  17.5,  191,  207,  227,   246, 
260,  266,  279,  285,  297,  312,   335. 
Portland,  172. 
Portsmouth,  222,  233. 
Portrait  of  Washington,  355. 
Powder,  25,  27,  46,  70,  91,  106,  129, 150,  201 

218 
Powell,  William,  51,  56,  58,  64. 
Pratt,  James,  101.  105. 
Prescott,  Samuel  J.,  285,  312,  335. 

William,  261,  280,  284,  285,  299, 
301,  326. 
President  of  United  States,  petition  to,  238. 
proclamation 
of,  222,  241. 
Price,  Ezekiel,  8,  9, 15, 107,130,  150,  307. 

Mr.,  32. 
Prince,  J.,  164. 

James.  72,  73, 100, 102, 103,  111,  112, 
137, 140, 153,  156, 159,  205,  212,  215, 
216,  217, 276,  282. 
John,  212. 
Samuel,  116. 
Printing  abstract  of  conditions  of  sale  of 
land  on  the  Neck,  184. 
appropriation  for,  25,  46,  202, 219, 

235,  274. 
article   relative  to  speedy  col- 
lection of  taxes,  77. 
by-laws  in  newspapers,  389. 

for  regulation  of  trucks, 
74. 
handbills,  221. 
laws,  new  edition  of,  110. 
names  of  committees,  52. 
oration  commemorative  of  the 
anniversary  of  Independence, 
1,  28,  50,  75,  111,  133,  155,  171, 
190,  204,  221,  236. 


Printing  proposal  for  enlarging  Faneui' 
Hall,  184. 
regulations  of  the  market,  43. 
of  report,   36,   53,    156,   174,   216, 

223. 
report,  relative  to   fires,    va- 
grants, 113,  115. 
report  of  selectmen,  101. 
resolutions     against    embargo, 

245. 
resolutions  on  death  of  George 

Washington,  78. 
revised  list  of  voters,  117. 
schedule  of  town  expenses,  70, 

109,  131. 
tax  bills,  122. 

town  treasurer's  account,  216. 
Prison,  State,  353. 
Proclamation   of    President    of    United 

States  22''  241 
Procter  (Proctor),' Edward,  8,  24,  29,  49, 
59,  79,  98,  117, 118, 126, 
140,  141,  160,  175,  178, 
191,  196,  208,  212,  227, 
231,  233,  246,  250,261, 
265,  279,  284. 
S.,  251. 
Providence,  319. 
Public  affairs,  316. 
order,  324. 

institutions,    borrowing     money 
from,  354. 
Purkett  (Purkit,  Purkitt),  Capt.   Henry, 
11,  36,  63,  85,  100,  120,  143,  162,  177,  193, 
210,  228,  247,  262,  281,  299,  324,  330. 
Putnam,  Jesse,  284. 

Quincy,  John  W.,  125. 

Josiah,  41,  45,  50,  51,  70,  78,  81,  87, 
95,  97,  103,  119,  141,  161,  165,  173, 
176,  194,  205,  239,  278,  333. 

Bainsford,  Dea.,  340. 

Ranger,  Edmund,  11,  64,  82, 100. 

Edward,  31. 
Raynham,  172, 
Records,  town,  215. 

Register  of  deeds,  choice  of,  96,  192,  281. 
Regulations  of  the  market,  37,  38,  42,  43. 
Rents,  42,  46,  48,  106,  129,  134,  149, 184,  219, 
304,  307,  313,  336. 
Deer  Island,  200. 
Faneuil  Hall,  286. 
Haymarket,  200. 
Market  square,  200. 
Old  State  House,  200,  286. 
Salt  Marsh,  200. 

stalls  in  Market  square,  200,  286. 
Reports,  16,  17,  18. 

of  committees,  16, 36, 37,  41,  44,  45, 

47,  48,  52,  53,  54,  55,  56,  58,  64,  65, 

70,  73,  77,  85,  88,  92,  106,  108,  109, 

112,  114,  122,  125,  128,  131,   144, 

148, 151, 154, 156, 158, 163, 168, 174, 

179, 184, 186, 188, 194,  215, 216, 222, 

223,  255,  258,  259,  267, 268, 269,  272, 

274, 277,  278,  286, 294,  302,  303,304, 

305, 306, 307,  308,  309,  310,  312, 316, 

320, 335, 339,  342,  344,  346,  347, 351. 

Representatives,  78,  103,  104,  105,  115,  116, 

123,137,138,  139,174,  189, 

240,252,266,284,287,316. 

application  of,  339. 

choice  of,  6.  7,  21,  22,  23, 

40, 51, 69, 89, 103,  127,  135, 

147,166,173,182.197,205, 

213, 232, 239,  251,  278,  285, 

311,  327,  334. 

number  of,  increased, 

181. 

Reservoir,  41,  45. 

Resolution  on  Baltimore  riots,  321,  324. 
Resolutions  against  embargo  act,  240,  241, 
242,  243,  244,  245. 


372 


City  Document  No.  115. 


Resolutions  of  Committee  on  Corre- 
spondence, '222. 
on  Daniel  Sargent,  316. 
of  Legislature,  54. 
on    threatened   war    with 
England,  316,  318. 
Revere,  Col.,  24,  34,  7S. 

Paul,  2,  44. 
Rhoades  (Rhodes),  Jacob,   117,  138,  140, 

233. 
Rice,  Benjamin,  215,  3-2S. 
John,  12,  247,  262. 
Thomas,  172. 
Rich,  Benjamin,  280,  298,  329. 

David,  210. 
Richards,  Joseph,  246,  261,  279,  298,  329. 
Richardson,  Jettry,  12,  33,  62,  83,  99,  120, 

142. 
Richmond,  172. 
Ricker,  Martin,  13. 
Riots,  method  of  suppressing,  324. 
Ritchie,  Andrew,  236. 
Rivers,  Charles,  224. 
Road,  petition  to  build  turnpike,  340. 

on  Dam,  348,  349. 
Robbins  (Robins),  Edward  H.,  38,  86,  102, 
124,  165,  180,  196,  211. 
Edward  J.,  262,  281,  299,  330. 
James,  11,  31,  82,  100,  120. 
Robinson,  Edward  Hutchinson,  145. 

James,  232,  252,  266,  280,  285, 
312,  334. 
Rogers,  D.  D.,  126. 

Rogues,  act  for  suppressing  and  punish- 
ing, 352. 
Ropewalks,  3, 14, 15,  84, 148, 1.53, 193,  194. 

to  rebuild,  conditions  of,  194. 
Rosseter,  David,  172. 
Roulstone,  John,  231. 
Rowe,  John,  90,  206. 
Roxbury,  55,  84,  173,  348. 

Canal,  148,  256,  267. 
petition    to  build  turnpike  to, 
340,  345,  347. 
Ruggles,  Samuel,  10. 
Rumley,  Edward,  12,  33,  63,  84,  100. 
Rumney,  Edward,  120, 143,  163, 177,  193. 
Russell,  Benjamin,  40,  68,  117, 119,167, 183, 
197,  212,  214,   232,   252,   266,  285, 
311,  326,332,334,339. 
Joseph,  4,  8,  11,  13,  21,  24,  25,  30, 
32,  40,  41,  47,  60,  63,  69,  71,  78,  80, 
82,  83,  87,  88,  89,  92,  94,  100,  103, 
104,  105, 107,  117, 119,  121, 126, 127, 
130, 136,  137, 138, 140, 143, 145, 147, 
148,  150, 152, 1.53, 1.54,  159, 160,  163, 
164,  165, 167, 168, 169, 170, 178,  184, 
186, 193,  205, 206,207,  210, 214,  215, 
220,  225,  226, 230, 235, 237, 246,  248, 
252,  254, 255, 257, 269, 263,  272,  274. 
Sarah,  90. 
Thomas,  90. 


Salaries  or  allowances,  assessors,  25,  26, 
4'6,  48,  71,  73,  93, 
107, 132, 170,  179, 
187,  203,  220, 235, 
275,  315,  .337. 

clerks  of  the 
market,  42. 

Clouston,  Louis, 
4. 

collector  of  taxes, 
10,32,61,81,  98, 
132,  275,  315, 
337,  346. 

court,  municipal, 
judge  of,  88, 
220,235,274,295, 
315,  337. 

Are  ward  8,  179. 

Ham  matt,  Ben- 
jamin, 67. 


Salaries  or  allowances,  Hunt,  Samuel, 

188. 
Tate,  James,  5. 
Thwing,  James, 

4. 
schoolma  s  t  e  r  s, 

25,  46. 
school      ushers, 

25,  46. 

town    clerk,    25, 

26,  47, 71, 92, 107. 
130,152,168,187, 
220, 235, 275, 295, 
315,  337. 

town  advocate, 
88,108,131,1.52, 
169,     187,     203, 
275,  295. 
town    treasurer, 
2.5,26.47,  71,92, 
107,132,170,187, 
295,315,337,346. 
town  treasurer's 
clerk,  275,  313. 
town  treasurer 
and    collector, 
203,220,235,275, 
315,  346. 
Salem,  171, 172. 
Salt  Marsh,  income  from,  200. 

works  on  Deer  Island,  136. 
Sargeant  (Sargent),  Daniel,  22,  182,  197, 
213,   232,  2.37,  244, 
251,   252,   256,   2,57, 
266,   283,   316,  324, 
325,   334. 
Henry,  287,  312,  324. 
Ia;natius,    208,    227, 
232,   246,  261,   280, 
298. 
Savage,  James,  285,  296,  312,  335. 
Scavengers,  57. 
Scarlet's  wharf,  131. 
School  lor  African  children,  315,  337. 
new,  to  establish,  91,  144. 
ushers,  appropriation  for,  25,  46, 

219,  234. 
writing  in  West  Boston,  144. 
committee,  15,  80,  91,  144,  188,  194, 
261,  286,  332,  337. 
carry  new  system  of 
education  into  oper- 
ation, 9,  10,  31,  61,  81, 
97,  119,  142,  161,   176, 
192,  209,  228,  247,  261, 
280,  299,  330. 
choice  of,  9,  23,  31,  60, 
81,  85,  97,  119, 125, 141, 
161,  176,  191,  208,216, 
227,  229,  247,  261, 280, 
299,  330. 
duties  of,  9,  10,  31,  61, 
81,   97,   119,   142,   161, 
176,  192,  209,  228,  247, 
261,  280,  299,  330. 
relative    to    Samuel 
Hunt's   petition,  24, 
27. 
report  of,  144. 
house,  grant  of  land  back  of,  255. 

to  build  new,  144. 
masters,  184,  202,  203,  261,  273,  280, 
299,  330. 
appropriation  for,  25,  46. 

1806,  202. 

1807,  219. 

1808,  234. 
1810,  273. 

retired,  pension  for,  188. 
Schools,  appropriation  for,  25,  46,  202,  219, 
234. 
grammar,  184. 

in  West  Boston,  144. 
Latin  grammar,  24,  314,  315. 


Index. 


373 


Schools,  removal  of  Centre,  314. 
repairs  to,  273. 
writing,  203,  314. 
Scollay,  William,  9,  30,  60,  80,  97,  118,  141, 

161,  176,191,208. 
Sconce,  South  Battery,  131. 
Scott,  James,  310. 
Scribner's  Monthly,  355. 
Sea  coast,  protection  of,  318. 
Sealers  of  leather.    (5ee  Leather.) 
Sears,  David,  325. 

Seaver  (Sever),  Ebenezor,  8,  29,  32,  33,  40, 

59,61,80,  81,  96,  99,  123, 

135, 142, 151, 161, 176, 192, 

199,  209, 228,  247, 262,  280. 

William,  172. 

Sea  wall,  194. 

Sedgwick,  Theodore,  211,  250,  264.  283,  .301. 
Selectmen,  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  7,  9, 10, 12, 14, 15,16, 
17,  19,  21,  22,  23,  24,  25,  27,  28, 
31,  32,  33,  34,  37,  38,  40,  41,  42, 
43,  44,  45,  47,  .50,  52,  53,  55,  56, 
60,  61,  62,  63,  64,  67,  69,  71,  72, 
73,  74,  75,  76,  77,  78,  80,  81,  84, 
86,  89,  90,  94,  97,  98,  101,  102, 
103,  104,  105,  107, 108, 110,  111, 
113,  115, 116,  117, 119,  121, 122, 
124,  127,  128,  130, 131,  132,  135, 
136,  137,  139,  141,  142, 144,  145, 
146,  149,  150,  153,  156,  157, 161, 
163, 164, 166,  168,  169, 174,  176, 
178,  179, 182,  183, 184,  185,  189, 
191, 194,  195,  199,  205,  206,  208, 
227,  229,  232,  238,  247,  249,  250, 
251,  252,  255,  256,  257,  258,  260, 
261,  264,  268,  271,  276,  277,  278, 
279,  280,  282,  283,  284,  286,  287, 
294,  295,  296,  297,  299,  304,  311, 
313,  315,  320,  321,  326,  328,  329, 
332,  338,  340,  341,  342,  345,  346, 
351. 
accounts  of,  to  audit,  11, 32,  63, 

83,  100,  121,  148,  163,  178. 
appropriation  for  1804,  168. 
1805,  186. 

1811,  294. 

1812,  313. 

1813,  336. 
agents  to  defend  town,  206, 215. 
choice  of,  8, 15, 23, 29,  44, 45,  59, 

73, 79,  96, 118, 141, 147, 160, 175, 

191,  194,  207,  226,  229,  246,  260, 

279,  297,  326,  329. 
convey  land  for  new  street, 

178.     ■ 
drafts  of  the,  47,  91,  106,  128, 

130,  149,  151,  186,  218,  219,  273. 
empowered  to  exchange  town 

land  on  mill  pond,  255. 
exempt  from  jury,  236. 
give  deeds  of  town's  land  on 

Fort  Hill,  185. 
to  give  licenses,  295. 
messengers,  appropriation  for 

1806,  202. 

1807,  219. 

1808,  234. 
notes,  201. 

oath  of,  211,  230,  2.50. 

present  petition  to  legislature, 

243. 
to  make  out  list  of  all  qualified 

to  vote,  23. 
to  regulate  jury  boxes,    205, 
235. 
Selfridge,  Thomas  O.,  211,  327. 
Senate,  240,  241,341. 

Senators,  choice  of,  19,  20,  23,  39,  68, 102, 
124, 145,  165,  180,  196,  212,  231,  250,  264, 
283,  301,  333. 
Serreson,  P.  A.,  39. 
Sewers,  224, 326. 
Shaw,  Lemuel,  285,  312  335. 
R.  G.,  287. 


Shaw,  S.,  140. 

William,  9. 
Shephard,  WiUiam,  172. 
Sherburne,  Thomas,  11. 

William,  44,  52,  59,  72,  73,  79, 
91,  96, 117,  118,  141. 
Ships,  Chesapeake,  222. 

Leopard,  222. 
Sign  boards,  24,  26. 

Sigorney  (Sigourney),  Andrew,  310,  .312, 
326,  335,  343,  344, 
351. 
Daniel,  30. 
Elisha,  5,  104,  266. 
John  R.,  10,  32,59, 
81,  99. 
Simpson,  Benjamin,  33. 
Singleton,  George,  11,  36,  63. 

John,  262. 
Skinner,  310. 

Slaughter-house  on  the  Neck,  16. 
Sluiceways,  349. 
Small-pox,  inoculation  for,  133. 
Smink,  Peter,  22. 
Smith,  Abiel,  15, 147, 165, 166,  167. 

Benjamin,  126,  140,   191,  208,  227, 

246,261,280,298,  .329. 
John,   228,  248,   253,   262,   281,   299, 

330. 
Jonathan,  172. 
Joseph,  117. 
Samuel,  281,  299,  344. 
WilUam,  8, 9,  21, 29,  31, 35,  40,  51,  52, 
53,  59,  61,  69,  79,  81,  87,  89,  97,98, 
103,  117, 118,  119,  141,  146, 147,  160, 
161,  166, 175,  176,  182,  189,  191,  192, 
197,  202,  203,  208,  209,  213,  219,  220, 
227,  232,  235,  246,  247,  252,  254,  260, 
261,  266,  275,  279,  280,  285,  295,  298, 
299,  300,  305,  310,  311,  313,  314,  315, 
329,  330,  331,  334,  344,  351; 
Snelling,  Josiah,  117,  125,  126, 138, 140, 149, 
162,  177,  192,  209,  229,  248,  248. 
263,  282,  292,  293,  298,  300,  310, 
331 . 
Samuel,  117, 118, 140, 141, 160,175, 
191,  208,  227,  246,  261,  279,  298, 
329. 
Somes,  John,  13. 
South  Battery,  206. 

Sconce,  131. 
Boston,  174. 

Boston  bridge,  199,  256,  267. 
street,  1.58,  174. 
Spear,  Gershom,  228,  248,  262,  281,  299,  330. 
Spooner,  WilUam,  9,  22,  31,  40,  61,  80, 166, 

182, 196,  212,  231,  250,  265,  333. 
Sprague,  Samuel,  300,  331. 
Star  chamber,  245. 

State  House,  6,  21 ,  40, 52,  69, 89, 103, 104, 127, 
146,  166,  182,  197,  213,  232. 
Old,  disposal  of,  34,  51,  78, 
136, 153. 
rent,  200. 
to  beleased,  conditions 

of  lease,  154,  249. 
town's  claim  to,  117. 
Prison,  114. 
street,  6. 
tax,  168,  186,  199,  200,  201,  203,  218, 

234,  273. 
treasurer,  10,  32,  62,  82,  98,  151,  186, 

305. 
treasury,  53. 
Stationery,  appropriation  for,  46,  307. 

1806,  202. 

1807,  219. 

1808,  235. 

1810,  274. 

1811,  307. 
Staves  and  hoops,  cullers  of,  choice  of,  11, 

63,  85,  100, 120, 143, 162, 177, 193,  210,  228, 
247,  253,  262,281,  299,  330. 
Stearns,  Josiah,  172. 


374 


City  Document  No.  115. 


stetson,  Thomas,  68. 

Stevenson,  Thomas,  10,  31,  63,  82,  99,  1-21, 

■250. 
Stillman,  Samuel,  9,  31,  60,  69,  80, 145. 
Stockbridge,  173. 
Stodder,  Joseph,  210,  228,  247,  262,  281,  299, 

330. 
Storer,  Ebenezer,  134,  150,  152. 
Storey,  Joseph,  301. 
Streets,  abutters  on.     (5ee  Abutters.) 
appropriation  for,  1806,  202. 

1807,  219. 

1808,  234. 
1810,  274. 

Ann,  2,  3, 13,  205. 

aloug  Canal,  350. 

appropriation  for  paving,  25,  46. 

Arch,  90. 

Battery  march,  203. 

suit    to    recover 
land  in,  206. 

Beach,  71. 

Brookline,  840, 

Beacon,  348. 

Cambridge,  129. 

Centre,  1U5. 

Common,  104. 

Concord,  348. 

Dedham,  348. 

Berne,  land  fronting  on,  315. 

Exchange  lane,  287. 

Fish,  132. 

Fore,  287. 

Franklin,  15. 

Front,  178,  256,  267,  350. 

Hampshire,  348. 

Hutchinson,  to  widen,  3. 

Kilby,  1,59,  163. 

land  taken  for  new,  178. 

leading  to  South  Boston  bridge, 
289. 

Leverett,  wharf  at  end  of,  282. 

Merchants  Row,  202. 

Middlecot,  90. 

Middlesex,  348. 

new,  laid  out,  90,  224,  255,  349. 

Northampton,  348. 

on  either  side  of  Canal,  350. 

Orange,  165,  178,  348,  350. 

disposal  of  land  between, 
and  So.  Boston  Bridge, 
293. 

petition  for  new,  6, 104,  106. 

Pleasant,  53,  121. 

Plymouth,  91. 

Pond,  90,  229. 

School,    application     for    grant 
on,  to  build  court-house,  255. 

School,  School-house  in,  315. 

sign  posts  at  corner  of,  24,  26. 

Snow  Hill,  title  to,  257. 

South,  158,  174. 

South  Bridge,  348. 

State,  6. 

Suffolk,  348. 

Summer,  90. 

Vincents  alley,  6. 

Washington,  185,  348,  349,  350. 

sluiceway  across,  349. 

Water,  159, 163,  206. 

to  widen,  105,  203. 

widening,  allowance  for,  76. 

Worcester,  348. 
Strong,  Caleb,  86,  102. 124, 145, 164, 180, 196, 

211,231,  301,333,342. 
Stuart,  Gilbert,  194,  355. 

.Jane,  355. 
Sturbridge,  173. 

Sturgis,  Russell,  8,  21,  29,  30,  33,  39,  40,  52, 
59,  60,  70,  79,  80,  91,  96,  97,  103, 
104,  105,  117,  118,  119,  123,  127, 
136,  141,  147,  167,  181,  196,  201, 
212,  231,  233,  250,  265,  283,  301, 
333. 


Sturgis,  Samuel,  117, 140. 
Stutson,  Amasa,  205,  2ie. 
John,  64. 
Major,  179. 
Thomas,  143. 
Suffolk  County,  20,    39,  54,  57,  68,  69,  87, 
102,  107,  124,  125,  136, 
145,  146,  153,  165,   168, 
174,  180,  196,   199,  211, 
219,  231,  250,  265,  270, 
273,  283,  284,  301,   307, 
325,  334,  339. 
register  of  deeds,  choice 

of,  96,  192. 
sheriff  of,  136,205,239. 
treasurer,  choice  of,  9, 
32,  61,  80,  96,  123,  142, 
161,    176,  192,   209,  228, 
247,  298. 
district  of,  135, 171, 172,  205,  2.39. 
Suit,  against  Town,  282. 
Sullivan,  George,  301,  324. 

James,  14,  18,  19,  20,  38,  39,  76, 77, 
112,  159,  164,  167,  169,  172,  180, 
196,  211,  212,  231. 
John  L.,  90. 

Judge,  72,  73, 119, 155, 163. 
Richard,  301,  333,  335. 
Thomas,  32,  62,  83. 
William,  155,  166,  182,  191,  197, 
208,  213,  227,  240,  246,  251,  252, 
261,  26.5,  266,  280,  284,  285,  298, 
301,  324,  325,  327,  329,  333,  334, 
350. 
Summer  street,  90. 

Sumner,  Benjamin,  125, 126, 143, 152,  161, 
176,  187,  189. 
Charles  P.,  211,  301. 
Col.,  321. 

Increase,  19,  20,  38,  68. 
Samuel,  117, 140. 
S.  W.,126. 
Thomas  W.,  183,  197,  214,  232, 

252,  266,  285,   340. 
William    H.,  232,   252,   266,   285, 
312,  316,  327,  334. 
Sureties,  bonds  to  be  given  as,  10,  32,  62, 

82,  98. 
Surveyors  of  boards.    (See  Boards.) 
hemp.    (See  Hemp.) 
highways.  (.See  Highways.) 
wheat.    {See  Wheat.) 
Sweet,  Samuel,  140,  214,  227,  246. 
Sweetser,  John,  8,  20,  22,  29,  39,  59,  79,  98. 
Swett,  Samuel,  261,  280. 
Swing  bridge,  2,  3. 

Tate,  James,  4,  5. 

Taxes,  abatement  of,  10,  32,  46,  70,  81.  "1, 
98,  128,  135,  234,  2.55,  273. 
County,  168,  186,  199,  200,  201,  203, 

218,  2.34,  287. 
deduction    for  prompt  payment, 

123. 
State,  168, 186, 199,  200,  201,  203,218, 

234. 
statement  of,  61,  294. 
to  defray  expenses  of  town,  25, 46, 
47,  71,  92,  107,  130,  152,  168,  187, 
203,  220,  235,  274,  312,  335. 
collectors  of,  accounts  of,  25,  46. 
allowance  to,  10,32, 

61,  81,  98,  1.32,  295. 

choice  of,  11,  35,  62, 

82,  99,  123,  260,  279, 

343. 

give  bond,  10,  32,  62, 

81,  98,  124,  261. 
make  returns  once  a 
year,  123. 
moneys  due  from,  46, 

70,  92. 
of,  premiums,  10,  32,  46, 
62,  81,  98. 


Index. 


375 


Taxes,  poll,  25,  47,  71,  92, 107,  130, 152,  IfiS, 
187,  203,  220,  235,  265,  274,  294,  313, 
337. 
real  estate,  25,  47,  71,  92,  107,  130, 
152, 168,  187,  203,  220,  285,  274,  294, 
303,  310,  312,  337. 
Thacher  (Thatcher),  Peter,  208,  221,  231, 
256,  262. 
Peter  C,  326. 
Peter  O.,    330,  332, 

347. 
Rev.  Dr.,  19,  86,  297. 
Thayer,  Ephraim,  2.52,  266,  285,  312,  334. 
Moses,  121,162. 
Richard,  262,  281,  299,  330. 
Samuel  M.,  266,  280,  285,  298,  312, 

329,  335,  341. 

Seth,  205,  216. 

Stephen,  212. 

Ziba,  228,  248. 

Thompson,  151. 

I.,  106. 

James,  11,  25,  35,  46,  62,  70,  82, 

92, 106, 129, 150,  152. 
William,  2,  51. 
Thorndike,  Israel,  301,  316,  333. 

John  P.,  340. 
Thwing,  James,  4. 
Ticknor,  Elisha,  184,  328. 

Mr.,  178. 
Tid,  T.,  126. 

Tidmarsh,  Nathaniel,  11,  31,  64. 
Tilden,  Bryant  P.,  227,  230,  246,  261,  279, 
280,  298,  329,  344,  346,  351. 
David,  8,  23,  29,  59,  79,  91,  93,  96, 
103,  104,   105,  116,  117,  118,   124, 
127,  139,  140,  141,   146,  147,  160, 
165,  167,  175,  181,  191,  196,  207, 
212,  226,  229,  231,  233,  2.50,  2,59, 
265,  270,  276,  278,   283,  301,  310, 
333. 
Joseph,  280,  292,  293,  298,  310,  312, 
314,  324,  329,  335. 
Tileston,  John,  45,  60,  73,  79,  91,  96,  117, 

118,141,  160,  175,  191,  208,  212. 
Tisdale,  James,  9,  30. 
Tombs,  277. 

in  Granary  burying-ground,  257. 
Topkins,  Rev.  Mr.,  117. 
Town  advocate,  choice  of,  88,  98, 120, 142, 
162,    176,   192,  208,    262, 
281. 
salary  of,  108,  131,  152, 
169,    187,   203,  219,    257, 
295. 
book,     statements     of    treasurer 

recorded  in,  202, 355. 
clerk,  5,  7,  8,  9,  24,  32,  47,  51,  61,  68, 
80,  87,  91,  96,  102,  116,  117, 
123,  125,  142,  176,  211,  228, 
230,  247,  250,  258,  259,  262, 
269,  273,  280,  310,  327,  331, 
338,  341,  346,  354. 
additional  allowance  to,  184, 

203. 
appropriation  for,  1806, 202. 
1807,2)9. 
1808,  234. 
1810,  273. 
1812,  315. 
choice  of,  8,  29,  59,  79,  96,  118, 
140,   160,   175,   190,   207,  226, 
246,  2m,  279,  297. 
salary,  25,    26,  46,  47,  71,  92, 
107,  130,  152,  168,   187,  220, 
235,  268,  275,  29.5,  315,  337. 
contract  with  Boston  Mill  Corpora- 
tion, 223,  224. 
debit  and  credit  of  the,  25,  46,  70, 
91,  92,  106,  128,  129,  130,  149,  150, 
168,  186,  198,  218,  219,  234,  272,  273, 
288,  335. 
dock,  13,  34,51,  71,  128, 131. 
to  cleanse,  56. 


Town,  division  of,  into  wards,  189. 

expenses  of  current  year,  25,  46,  71, 
92. 
tax  to  defray,   25,  46, 
47,   71,   92,  107,  130, 
152,168,187,203,320, 
235,    274,    294,    312, 
335. 
financial  affairs,  report  of   com- 
mittee, 122,  302. 
indictment  against,  282. 
lamps,  14,  52,  53,  130. 

appropriation  for,  25,  46, 

202,  219,  234. 
to  be  lighted,  56. 
land.    {See  Land.) 

on  Kilby  street,  to  release, 
163. 
meetings,  1,  2,  3,  5,  6,  7, 15,  16, 19, 
20,  23,  26,  27,  28,  30, 
33,  36,  37,  38,  39,  41, 
45,  49,  50,  51,  52,  55, 
58,  62,  65,  67,  68,  69, 
70,  72,  75,  76,  77,  78, 
79,  83,  85,  86,  87,  88, 
90,  91,  93,  94,  96,  98, 
101, 103,  104,  105,  109, 
110,  111,112,  113,  116, 
117,  118,  121,  123,  124, 
125, 126.  127,  131,  133, 
133, 134, 135,  136,  137, 
138,  139,  140,  142,  144, 
145,  146,  147,  149,  153, 
1.55,  156,  157,  158,  1,59, 
160,  163,  164,  165,  166, 
167,  169,  170,  171,  173, 
174,  175,  179,  180,  181, 
182,  183,  184,  187,  188, 
189, 190,  191,  194,  195, 
196,  198,  203,  204,  205, 
207,  208,  210,  213,  214, 
215,  217,  220,  221,  222, 
223,  225,  226,  339,  230, 
232',  233,  235,  236,  337, 
238,  239,  240,  245,  249, 
251,  252,  2.55,  256,  257, 
258,  260,  264,  265,  266, 
275,  276,  278,  279,  283, 
284,  285,  296,  297,  300, 
302,  311,  312,  315,  320, 
321,  326,  327,  328,  ,329, 
332,  334,  335,  340,  344, 
347. 
moneys,  to  place  on  interest,  3. 
pension  schoolmaster,  188. 
police,  43,  73,  112. 

appropriation  for,  1806, 202. 

1807,  219. 

180S,  234. 

1810,  273. 

portrait  of  Washington  presented 

to,  194. 
records,  215. 

relinquish  all  claim  to  Mill  Pond, 
217. 
conditions  of,  223,  224. 
remit  fine,  84. 

security  of,  112, 113,  115,  116, 137. 
suit   against,  agents    to    defend, 

206. 
sum  necessarv  to  defray  expenses 

of,  25. 

to  remove  strangers  from,  112, 116. 

treasurer,  10,  24,  32,  62,  119,  131, 

253,  260,  272,  273,  386, 

287,  292,  308,  309,  339. 

accounts  of,  25,  70,  106, 

128,  129, 130, 

149,150,151, 

1.52,  168,  186, 

198,  199, 200, 

201,218,234, 

264,  271, 294, 

304. 


376 


City  Document  No.  115. 


Town  treasurer,  accounts  of,  to  audit,  32, 
63, 70,  S3, 100, 
121,  128,  134, 
143,  150,  163, 
178,  187,  193, 
210,  248,  263, 
272,  282,  294, 
300,  312,  331, 
339,  346,  351. 
authorized   to  borrow 
money  for  new  alms- 
house, 66,  111,  112. 
authorized   to  borrow 
money    for   use    of 
Board  of  Health,  72, 
93, 108, 132. 
authorized   to  borrow 
money     t  o    enlarge 
Faneuil  Hall,  185. 
authorized   to   borrow 
money    t  o    pay    for 
land   and    buildings 
taken,  132. 
bond    from    Aqueduct 

Corporation,  45. 
choice  of,  8,  9,  29,  61, 
80,    97,    123,  260,  279, 
298,  310,  331 . 
chosen  collector,  duty 

of,  122. 
drafts  of,  47, 179, 186. 
money  due  for  sale  of 
land  on  which  alms- 
house stands,  65. 
money,  on  interest,  2. 
money  paid  S.  Brown, 

106. 
money  paid   by  town 
to  Louis  Clouston,  4. 
money  paid   by  town 

to  James  Tate,  5. 
money  paid    by  town 
to  James  Thwing,  4. 
salary,  25,  26,  46,  47,  71, 
92,  107,  1.32,   170,  187, 
^75,  295,  315,  337,  343, 
346. 
to  issue  notes,  121,  124, 

131. 
to  pay   expenses    of 
Board  of  Health, 
58. 
and  county  treasurer, 
office  of,  not  united, 
122. 
and    collector,    appro- 
priation for,  1806, 202. 

1807,  219. 

1808,  234. 
1810,  273. 
1812,  346. 

and  collector,  choice 
of,  134,  143,  161,  176, 
189,  192,  209,  227,  246, 
279,  331. 
and  collector,  salary 
of,  203,  220,  235,  275, 
295,  315,  337,  346. 
watch,  24,  115. 

appropriation  for,  25,  46, 
202,  219,  234,  273. 
Townsend,  Alexander,  275,  285,  301,  312. 
Andrew,  27,  39,  41,  64,  82,  99. 
David,  9,  15,  22,  167,  181,  196, 

212,  233,  265,  284,  301. 
Moses,  328. 
Treasurer,  State,  10,  .32,  62,  82,  98, 151, 186. 

Town.    (5eeTown.) 
Treasury,  State,  money  allowed  for  artil- 
lery, .53. 
Town,  10,  32,  62,  82,  98, 153,  218, 
298,  .351. 
Treat,  Samuel,  125, 143,  162,  177. 
Trench,  John,  82. 


Troops,  Artillery  company,  53,  73. 

standing  army,  245. 
Trott,  George,  129,  152. 
Trucks,  law  regulating,  53,  74. 
Truman,  John,  117, 140. 
Trustees,  for  land  on  neck,  choice  of,  105, 
167,  183,  198,  216,  233,  252. 
town's  land  on  the  neck,  1 05, 108, 
148,  167, 
183,  184, 
206. 

money 
due  to, 
294. 
invest 
proceeds 
o  f   sale 
of,  185. 
Tucker,  Joseph,  281,  299,  830. 

Nathaniel,  36. 
Tuckerman,  Abraham,  10,  31,  64,  82,  99. 

Edward,  12,  33,  62,  83,  99, 120, 
138,  142,  148,  162,  177,  183, 
192,  197,  198,  209,  213,  214, 
229,  233,  248,  252,  263,  282, 
300,  331,  347. 
Isaac,  14. 
Tudor,  307. 

William,  39,  40,  52,  56,  70,  89,  102, 
105,  124,  128,  145,  148,  157,  165,  239, 
251,  255,  256,  265,  266. 
Tufts,  Cotton,  172. 

Tukesbury   (Xewksbury),    Andrew,  106, 

128, 129, 150. 

William,  201, 

218,234,253. 

Turner,  173. 

Charles,  173. 
Elisha,  177,  193. 
Turnpike  on  Boston  neck,  156. 
Tuttle,  Daniel,  327. 
Turell,  340. 
Twist,  Solomon,  121. 
Tythingmen,  choice  of,  15,  22,  23. 

Union  bank,  2,  3,  92,  107,  112,  130, 150, 151, 

186,  201,  287,  306. 
United  States,  attack  on,  by  British,  222. 

President  of,  323. 
Upham,  Edward,  172. 
Uran,  .James,  247. 
Ushers,  appropriation  for,  25,  46,  219,  284. 

Volunteers,  245. 
Voters,  list  of,  19,  23, 139. 

to  revise,  117. 
Votes  for  assessors,  98. 

elector   of    the  President   and 
Vice-President,7, 171, 172, 173, 
328. 
governor,   lieutenant-governor, 
and  senators,  19,  20,  38,  39,  68, 
86,  87, 102,  124,  145, 164, 180, 181, 
196,  211,   231,   250,  264,  283,  301, 
333. 
register  of  deeds,  96, 192,  281. 
representatives,  7,  21,  22,  40,  51, 
69,89,  103,127,135,  147,166,173, 
182,  197,  205,  213,    233,   239,  251, 
265,  278,  285,  311,  327. 
selectmen,  73,  147,  229,260. 
town    treasurer    and  collector, 

189,  209,  279. 
treasurer  of  Suffolk  County,  61, 
80,  96,  123, 142,  161, 176,  192,  228, 
247,  262,  280,  310. 
Voting,  qualifications  for,  23,  24. 

Waldo,  Benjamin,  107,  130,150. 
Walker,  .John,  328, 
Walley,  S.  H.,301. 

Thomas,  8, 12, 13, 14. 
Walsh,  Thomas,  141. 
Walter,  Lynde,  285,  312,  334,  340. 


Index. 


377 


Walter,  Kev.  Dr.,  50. 

William,  126, 154,  252,  266. 
War,  241,    243,  316,  317,  318,  319,  321,  322, 

335. 
Ward,  Artemas,  285,  325,  327. 
Warrants,  1,  2,  3,  6,  7,  13, 14,  19,  21,  22,  23, 
24,  27,  28,  29,  34,  35,  38,  40,  41,  44,  49,  50, 
51,  52,  53,  55,  57,  58,  67,  69,  70,  71,  72,  73, 
75,  76,  78,  79,  84,  86,  87,  89,  90,  91,  94,  96, 
100,  102,  103,  104,  110,  111,  113,  116,  117, 
121,  124,  126,  127,  128,  132,  133,  134,  135, 
136, 137,  138,  139,  140,  145,  146,  147,  148, 
153, 154,  155,  156,  157,  158,  159,  160,  163, 
164,  165,  166,  167,  170,  171,  173,  174,  175, 
178,  179,  180,  181,  182,  183,  188,  189,  190, 
193, 195,  196,  198,  204,  3o5,  206,  207,  210, 
211,213,  214,  215,  221,  222,  225,  226,  230, 
232,233,  237,  239,  240,  245,  249,  250,  251, 
252,  256,  257,  258,  260,  263,  264,  266,  268, 
269,  276,  279,  282,  283,  284,  291,  296,  297, 
312,  315,  320,  321,  325,  326,  327,  329,  332, 
335,  340,  344,  347,  351. 
Warren,  James,  172. 

John,  35,  36,  212,  222,  325. 
John  (J.,  326,330. 
Joseph,  34,  178,  240. 
Washington,  George,  78,  194,  355. 

George,  death    of,    resolu- 
tions, 78. 
George,  portrait   of,  given 

to  town,  194,  355. 
street,  185. 
Watch.    {See  Constables.) 
house,  115. 
town,  24,  115. 

town,  appropriation  for,  25,  46, 
202,  219,  234. 
Water  course,  206. 
Water  street,  159, 163,  206. 
Waters,  Col.,  34,  35, 117. 

Josiah,  35. 
Watertown,  348. 
Wear,  John,  39. 

Weatherley  (Wetherly),  Joshua,  12,  33,  62. 
Webb,  Nathan,  126,  229,  246,  252,  260,  261, 
266,  279,  280,  285,  297,  298,  312,  328, 
329,  334. 
Thomas,  250. 
Webster,  Bedford,  8,  29,  59,  80,  98, 118, 126, 
141,  160,  175,  183,  191,  197,  208,  213,  218, 
227,  246,  257,  261,  268,  279,  292,  293,  298, 
310,329,  340,351. 
Welch  (Welsh),  Thomas,  9,  31,  60,  81,  97, 
119,  161, 176,  191,  208,  212,  227,  247,  261, 
9QQ  299   330 
Weld,  Benjamin,  246,  252,  260,  266,  274,  279, 
284,  285,  287,  297,  312,  321,  326,  32s,  329, 
333,  334,  340,  342,  344. 
Welles  (Wells),  Arnold,  8,  9,  14,  18,  20, 
21,  29,  31,  40,  59,  61,  68,  80,  81,  97, 
98,  101,  104,  112,  116, 117, 119,  137, 
140, 141,  161,  176, 191,  208,  227,  237, 
247,  261,  276,  280,  284,  299,  325,  332, 
333 
John',  12,  33,  62. 83, 100,  117, 120,  142, 
162,  166,  177,  182,  192, 197,  209,212, 
213,  215,  216,  229,  231,  232,  248, 250, 
263,  265,  266,  270,  272,  282,  283, 300, 
301,  331,  333,  337. 
Samuel,  3. 
William,  330. 
Welsh,  Jacob,  252,  266. 
Wendall  (Wendell),  Oliver,  20,  39,  41,  68, 
72,  73,  78,  87,  102,  124,  145,  165,  171,  ISO, 
206,  212. 
West,  David,  252. 


West,  Samuel,  9,  31,  58,  60,  81,  97,  119,  125. 
Boston,  37,  144. 

erection  of  ropewalks  at, 
14, 15. 
Indies,  72,  73. 
Springfield,  172. 
Wharf,  Long,  56. 
Pitts,  44. 
Scarlets,  131. 
Spears,  56. 
Woodward's,  64. 
Wharves,  erection  of,  257. 

for  removing  of  filth,  295. 
Wheat,  surveyors  of,  choice  of,  12,  .^3,  62, 
83,  99,  120,  142,  162,  177,  192, 209, 229, 248, 
263,  281,  300,  331. 
Wheeler,  Capt.,  140. 

William,  83,  99, 120, 142. 
Wheelock,  Abijah,  62. 
Wheelwright,  Job,  36,  63, 
White,  Benjamin,  11,  12,  30,  33,  62,  64,  82, 
83,  99,  100,  120,  142,  143, 152,  162, 
177, 192,  193,  209,  210,  228,  247,248, 
262,  281,  299,  330. 
Samuel,  10,  31,  63,  82,  99,  121. 
Whiting,  Jabez,  301. 
John,  173. 
Whitman,  Benjamin,  197,214,  232,  252,  266, 
284,  285,  312,  334,  342,  343,  344. 
Zachariah  G.,  283. 
Whitney,  Jonathan,  285,  312,  335,  340. 
Whitwell,  Samuel,  24,  34, 117. 

William,  30,  301. 
Wilby,  Francis,  301. 
Wild  (Wilde),  Abel,  149. 
Jonathan,  301. 
Samuel  S.,  172. 
Wilds,  Major,  72,  73. 
Will  of  the  late  Thomas  Boylston,  76,  77. 
Williams,  John  D.,298,  329. 

Robert,  326,  328,  329. 
Winchester,  Samuel,  230. 
Winnisimmet  Ferry,  85. 
Winslow,  Col.,  24,  35. 

Isaac,  292,  293,  298,  310,  341. 
John,  9,  30,  60,  76,  78,  80,  97,  105, 
116,  117,  118,  119,  126,  128,  129, 
137,  138,  140,  141,  143,  144,  148, 
153,  161,  167,  176,  179,  182,  183, 
191,  197,  198,208,  212,  213,  214, 
227,  233,  246,  252,  261,  266,  276, 
278,  280,  298,  310,  329,  331. 
Winthrop,  James,  172. 

Jolin,  8,  20,  22,  30,  60,  70. 
Thomas  L.,  333. 
Wiscasset,  172. 

Wood,  boards,  surveyors  of.  (See  Boards.) 
building  with,  13,  138,  139. 
sealers  of,  choice  of,  14. 
Woodman,  John,  173. 
Woodward,  Mr.,  48. 
Worcester  district,  172,  173, 
Workhouse,  petition  to  establish,  351. 

report  of  committee  on,  113, 

114. 
town  empowered  to  build, 

352. 
{See,  also,  Almshouse.) 
Wright,  Francis,  117, 147,  160, 175, 183, 191, 
197,  207,  213,  226,  246,  252,  260, 
266,  279,  285,  297,  304,  326. 
T.,  126. 

York  district,  172,  173. 
loung,  Alexander,  68. 
William,  231. 


3^V  .'  M^  *W         Ik  J^- 


DOES  NOT  CmCULATE 


BOSTON  COLLEGE  LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  HEIGHTS 
CHESTNUT  HILL.  MASS. 

Books  may  be  kept  for  two  weeks  and  may  be 
renewed  for   the   same   period,   unless   reserved. 

Two  cents  a  day  is  charged  for  each  book  kept 
overtime. 

If  you  cannot   find   what   you   want,    ask    the 
Librarian  who  will  be  glad  to  help  you. 

The  borrower  is  responsible  for  books  drawn 
on  his  card  and  for  all  fines  accruing  on  the  same. 


